Antepartum bleeding

Antepartum bleeding
Specialty	Obstetrics

In obstetrics, antepartum haemorrhage (APH), also prepartum hemorrhage, is genital bleeding during pregnancy from the 24th week (sometimes defined as from the 20th week) gestational age to term.

It can be associated with reduced fetal birth weight.

Treatment It should be considered a medical emergency (regardless of whether there is pain) and medical attention should be sought immediately, as if it is left untreated it can lead to death of the mother and/or fetus.

Causes of APH

• Obstetric
  • Placenta
    • Maternal blood
      • Bloody show (benign) - most common cause of APH
      • Placental abruption - most common pathological cause
      • Placenta previa - second most common pathological cause
    • Fetal blood (can be distinguished with Apt test)
      • Vasa previa - often difficult to diagnose, frequently leads to fetal demise
  • Ruptured Uterus
    • Uterine rupture

• Nonobstetric
  • Bleeding from the lower genital tract
    • Cervical bleeding - cervicitis, cervical neoplasm, cervical polyp
    • Bleeding from the vagina itself - trauma, neoplasm
  • Bleeding that may be confused with vaginal bleeding
    • GI bleed - haemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease
    • Urinary tract bleed - urinary tract infection

See also

• Obstetrical haemorrhage

External links

• . GPnotebook https://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=684720129. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)