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Threatened Abortion

(Threatened Miscarriage; Threatened Pregnancy Loss)

by Krisha McCoy, MS

Definition

Threatened abortion is a diagnosis that is made during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Vaginal bleeding could suggest an increased risk of miscarriage.

Fetus in First Trimester

Nucleus image
Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Early-pregnancy bleeding can originate from the uterus, cervix, vagina, or the external genital area.

In many cases, the cause of the bleeding is due to a minor condition that requires no treatment. But if you have any vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy, especially if you also have abdominal pain, you should contact your doctor.

Possible causes of bleeding include:

  • Implantation of the embryo
  • Infection
  • Irritation (eg, after intercourse)
  • Miscarriage
  • Ectopic pregnancy (the baby develops outside of the uterus)
  • Molar pregnancy (rare growth inside the uterus)

Risk Factors    TOP

Factors that may increase the risk of threatened abortion include:

  • Infection
  • Trauma
  • Certain medicines
  • Advanced maternal age

Symptoms    TOP

The main symptom is bleeding during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Bleeding may be light or heavy. You may also have abdominal cramping.

Diagnosis    TOP

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Tests that may be done include:

Treatment    TOP

Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Many cases of threatened abortion require no treatment at all. In other cases, treatment options include:

Bed Rest

If you are bleeding heavily, your doctor may recommend bed rest. This has not shown to be beneficial, though. Your doctor may also want you to limit your activities.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe progesterone. This is a female hormone that supports a pregnancy.

If your blood is Rh-negative and your partner's blood is Rh-positive, your doctor will give you an injection of Rho immune globulin. This will prevent your body from producing antibodies against your fetus' blood.

If you are diagnosed with a threatened abortion, follow your doctor's instructions.

Prevention    TOP

While there is no clear way to prevent threatened abortion, you can take these steps to have a healthy pregnancy:

  • Get regular prenatal care.
  • Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
  • Limit caffeine intake.
  • Control any long-term conditions that you may have (eg, diabetes, thyroid disorder).
  • Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine. Some medicines can be harmful to your baby.
  • Avoid contact with toxins.

RESOURCES:

American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/
American Pregnancy Association
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services
http://www.capss.com/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html/

References:

Bleeding during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.or... . Accessed August 14, 2012.
Bleeding during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.america... . Updated October 2008. Accessed August 14, 2012.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Andrea Chisholm
Last Updated: 09/12/2012