What Causes Bleeding in Early Pregnancy?
Many women have vaginal spotting or bleeding in early pregnancy. An ultrasound, or sonogram, may be performed to help determine the reason for the bleeding. Your doctor may wish to do a pelvic exam. This bleeding may be a result of implantation – when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Early in pregnancy your doctor may order a series of blood pregnancy tests. These tests measure the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your bloodstream. HCG is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Your doctor can monitor the progress of your pregnancy in the early weeks by following the increasing levels of hCG in the blood. Sometimes the cause of the bleeding is never found. What is a Miscarriage? A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy in the early stages. It is most common during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, however a miscarriage can occur any time during the first half of a pregnancy. Although 15 to 20% of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage, ap
