Some women who think they may be pregnant but have experienced vaginal bleeding may have a very difficult time identifying whether this bleeding is just a missed period or whether it is in fact a miscarriage, especially if it happened within 4 weeks of the due date. probable menstruation.
Therefore, it is important that the gynecologist is consulted so that an assessment of uterine bleeding is carried out and tests such as beta-hCG measurement and transvaginal ultrasound are requested to rule out the hypothesis of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, for example.
Medical monitoring is essential in the presence of bleeding and suspected miscarriage or menstruation, as this makes it possible to prevent complications, such as iron deficiency anemia caused by excessive bleeding, and initiate the most appropriate treatment, if necessary.
Differences between abortion and menstruation
The following table indicates the main differences between menstrual bleeding and miscarriage bleeding. However, it is important to take into account that the signs and symptoms of menstruation vary greatly from one woman to another.
Some differences that can help a woman identify whether she is having a miscarriage or whether her period is late are:
Some women may experience little pain during their period, while others experience severe cramps and bleed a lot, making it more difficult to identify whether it is menstruation or miscarriage. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist whenever a period appears with characteristics different from the previous ones, so that the most appropriate tests can be carried out and the best treatment can be initiated, if necessary. especially when there is suspicion of miscarriage. Know how to recognize the signs of miscarriage.
Tests that help identify the cause
Although the pharmacy pregnancy test can, in some cases, help identify whether it is a miscarriage or a missed period, the only way to confirm the diagnosis is to consult a gynecologist for a transvaginal ultrasound or a blood test to evaluate the pregnancy. amount of beta-hCG hormone circulating in the blood, which is increased in case of pregnancy.
Quantitative beta-HCG test
The beta-HCG test needs to be done at least on two different days to assess whether the levels of this hormone in the blood are decreasing. If this happens, it is a sign that the woman has suffered a miscarriage.
However, if the values increase, it means that she may still be pregnant and that the bleeding was just caused by the embryo implanting in the uterus or by another cause, and a transvaginal ultrasound is recommended.
If the values remain the same and below 5mIU/ml, it is likely that there was no pregnancy and, therefore, the bleeding is just a delayed period. See how to understand the results of the beta hCG test.
Transvaginal ultrasound
Transvaginal ultrasound allows you to obtain an image of the inside of the uterus and the woman’s other reproductive structures, such as the tubes and ovaries. Thus, with this exam it is possible to identify whether there is an embryo developing in the uterus, in addition to evaluating other problems that may have caused the bleeding, such as an ectopic pregnancy, for example. Understand how transvaginal ultrasound is performed.
In some rarer cases, the ultrasound may indicate that the woman does not have an embryo or any other change in the uterus, even when the beta-HCG values are altered. In these cases, the woman may be pregnant and, therefore, it is recommended to repeat the examination approximately 2 weeks later, to assess whether it is now possible to identify the embryo.
What to do if you suspect a miscarriage
In most cases, the miscarriage occurs in the first week of pregnancy and, therefore, the bleeding only lasts 2 or 3 days and the symptoms improve during this period, meaning there is no need to go to the gynecologist.
However, when the pain is very severe or the bleeding is very intense, causing tiredness and dizziness, for example, it is advisable to go immediately to the gynecologist or hospital to start appropriate treatment, which may only include the use of medicines to alleviate the pain. pain or minor emergency surgery to stop the bleeding.
Furthermore, when a woman thinks she has had more than 2 miscarriages, it is important to consult a gynecologist to identify whether there is a problem, such as endometriosis, that is causing the miscarriages and that needs to be treated.
