Signs of pregnancy are confirmed by a medical examination, but suddenly spotting appears, reminiscent of menstruation. Someone in such a situation begins to panic, others react more calmly, but prudently show themselves to a gynecologist. Where does this phenomenon come from and how dangerous is it? This is a question everyone should ask future mom.
Can I smear during pregnancy?
Even when pregnancy has obviously occurred, sometimes a discharge appears from the vagina, similar in appearance to menstrual discharge, but less intense and, as a rule, darker, the color of coagulated blood. In such cases, doctors and patients say: smear during pregnancy - and look for the reason for the change in the condition of the expectant mother.
The discharge may also be lighter: creamy, or almost brown. Their causes are different, so you should see a doctor. Only he can decide whether these are natural changes in the body or whether the source of the discharge should be sought in certain pathologies.
Hormonal changes
The most common cause of this phenomenon is hormonal changes in the mother's body. In the very first weeks they are absolutely not dangerous. The amount of progesterone increases at this time, which leads to “tension” of the vascular system and weak bleeding. Fortunately, this phenomenon is infrequent, and it is believed that it does not pose a threat to the fetus.
It smears weakly during pregnancy during the so-called implantation period, that is, at the very beginning, during the time when the fertilized egg penetrates the uterine cavity and attaches to the wall of the uterus. In order to securely attach itself, the embryo prepares a “nest” for itself by lightly scraping the epithelium of the uterus. Only 10-12 days have passed since conception, and this time frame should suggest the true cause of the discharge. But it is still necessary to see a doctor; he will weed out other causes of “spotting” and make a competent prognosis of the course of pregnancy.
Smears at the beginning of pregnancy
Quite common in the early stages small placental abruption. It is not critical for either the mother or the child and the problem usually resolves itself. But with more serious abruptions of the placenta or chorion (the outer membrane of the fetus), it smears at the beginning of pregnancy, and this can become a serious problem. The bleeding becomes severe enough that the placenta loses its ability to function normally, and the fetus may die as oxygen and nutrients are no longer supplied.
Another reason for this phenomenon is ectopic pregnancy or so-called frozen (when the fetus stops developing for some reason). In these cases, it really hurts during pregnancy, and most often you have to resort to surgical intervention: full-scale or in a gentle form, laparoscopy. Sometimes it is possible to induce an artificial miscarriage with medication; the woman’s genitals remain almost normal. In a few months, or better yet, after six months, you can plan a new conception.
Cervical erosion
The so-called spotting in early pregnancy is a likely manifestation of cervical erosion or polyps of the cervical canal. These diseases are sometimes accompanied by slight discharge and pain, which intensify during intimacy.
Erosion is a fairly serious disease, but if it is discovered after pregnancy, it is better to postpone treatment until later, before delivery, since it is not dangerous for the fetus. And only in special cases, at the insistence of the doctor, will urgent medical intervention be required.
Risk of miscarriage
In the first trimester of pregnancy, women are often bothered by leucorrhoea, that is, light discharge with unpleasant smell. In themselves, during this period they do not pose a threat, being a product of hormonal changes, but they become an alarm bell if they sharply change color and intensity, and are supplemented with purulent mucus. This is a signal of a possible exacerbation of some kind of sexually transmitted infection. And a reason to contact a specialist and start treatment.
Apply during pregnancy and in situations of threatened miscarriage. In the initial stages, the mother’s body can simply reject the fetus as some kind of foreign body, for example, in a situation of Rh conflict or other individual reactions. The first thing a woman should do: limit motor activity, cancel hot showers and baths, and place a taboo on your sex life - until the reasons are fully identified together with your doctor.
Spotting has a characteristic appearance in early pregnancy. A woman should know the signs of a normal and pathological process. This will allow you to recognize a dangerous symptom in time and seek help from a doctor. If there are red or brown discharge should be called immediately ambulance.
Spotting in the first months of pregnancy: is it normal or a reason to see a doctor?
Hormonal and physiological changes occur in the body of a pregnant woman. Often spotting appears precisely against the background of such metamorphoses.
However, there are also a number of pathological causes of an unpleasant nature. If you have spotting, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist and undergo the necessary examination. Thanks to this, it will be possible to maintain a favorable course of pregnancy.
Discharge and pregnancy
Spotting during pregnancy is considered normal if it is scanty and has no unpleasant odor. Normally they can be white or beige.
You should immediately consult a doctor if there is blood or pus in the secretion. Additionally, the situation can be aggravated by other symptoms and negative manifestations. A woman should not ignore them. Otherwise, the pregnancy may end in miscarriage.
If yellowish secretions appear
Spotting is not always considered normal during gestation. Doctors carefully study the symptom, because it may be a sign of the development of pathology.
Pathological causes
Early spotting most often appears after sexual intercourse. The situation arises against the background of the negative course of the following pathological pictures:
- Risk of miscarriage.
- Minor mechanical damage to the mucous membrane occurred. This picture occurs when candles are used incorrectly, douching or too intense sex.
- Cervical erosion, although it does not pose a real threat to the fetus, can produce spotting. During pregnancy, doctors do not recommend treating it.
- There are polyps in the cervical canal.
A woman may experience spotting after an examination by a gynecologist. In this case, there is no need to panic.
Doctors identify a number of pathological reasons for this process:
- Detachment of the placenta or the fetal egg itself.
- Spotting is observed in a woman in case of fetal death.
- Threat of miscarriage.
- Ectopic attachment of the fertilized egg.
- Sexual infections.
Physiological reasons
After pregnancy, the body needs a certain period of time to rebuild. A woman observes spotting in the first trimester on the days of her expected period. Hormonal changes cannot occur immediately in the absence of a cycle. Such a process can pose a real threat to the life of the fetus. Gynecologists advise women to follow the following rules:
- Avoid sudden movements or heavy lifting.
- Create the most comfortable emotional situation for yourself.
- Don't take a hot bath.
- Refuse sex.
If these precautions are not followed, the risk of bleeding increases. Experts recommend continuing to keep a calendar with the expected days of the menstrual cycle.
Can they be in the early stages?
Every healthy woman can periodically secrete mucus; all internal organs are covered with it. The cervix should always be moist. The genitals begin to work more actively during pregnancy.
After fertilization of the egg, a woman may notice a small amount of discharge Brown. They appear when the embryo successfully attaches to the wall of the uterus. The process lasts no more than 40 hours. Spotting may be one-time or occur periodically over a period of time. of this period time. Blood is released against the background of minor vascular damage. Implantation mucus may be absent or brown or beige in color.
If beige spotting secretions are odorless
In the first weeks of pregnancy, the embryo needs to attach securely to the wall of the uterus. What follows is a process of growth and development. During this period, the expectant mother may feel slight ailments, and also periodically see spots of different colors on her underwear. The situation is developing under the influence of the following factors:
- Against the background of an increase in progesterone, vaginal secretion increases noticeably.
- The secretions are used to moisturize the woman's genitals.
- Light beige discharge occurs against the background of the formation of placental tissue and mucus plug. The components are necessary to protect the embryo from the negative effects of external factors.
- During the first trimester, during the period of planned menstruation, a woman may develop a spot streaked with blood.
- Brown discharge may occur after examination in a chair or ultrasound. The genitals become sensitive to all manipulations that are performed on them.
- Beige discharge also appears in case of an allergy to synthetic underwear or an incorrectly selected intimate area care product.
Discharge of this nature is considered quite normal. However, if a woman experiences severe discomfort or the addition of other symptoms, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor. During pregnancy, you should use colorless and odorless sanitary pads. In this case, it will be possible to correctly interpret the nature of the discharge.
When to worry
Spotting in the first trimester is typical for most women. They should not have an unpleasant odor or be accompanied by itching or burning. Even a small amount of blood indicates a threat of miscarriage. Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of a change in condition based on a series of tests.
It is necessary to immediately call an ambulance if the discharge is dark brown or brown with blood. A negative clinical picture also develops with green or gray smudges. Additionally, it may emit a sharp and bad smell. Only a specialist in this field can correctly assess the degree of danger.
What to do
A woman should consult a doctor if any negative changes in her condition are detected. The specialist will conduct an examination, based on which the result will be formulated and the degree of threat will be assessed. You will need to take swabs to check for a yeast or vaginal infection. When diagnosing a disease, a treatment is selected that will not harm the process of formation of a new organism.
If necessary, hormonal medications are prescribed. If the pregnancy has stopped developing, then immediate surgical intervention is required - abortion.
A woman should not self-medicate. Only a doctor can choose the right medications.
Spotting appears in a woman during any period of pregnancy. They can be physiologically normal or serve as a symptom of pathologies during fetal formation. Conclusions can be drawn only on the basis of a detailed examination. It will be necessary to exclude serious pathologies that could negatively affect the body of the mother or child. We should not forget that the risk of miscarriage remains throughout pregnancy.
Useful video
Brown discharge during pregnancy inevitably causes anxiety in the expectant mother. The reason for this concern is easy to understand, because the brownish color of such discharge is given by inclusions of blood. And every woman knows about the danger of bleeding during pregnancy.
Indeed, brown spotting during pregnancy very often indicates various abnormalities and pathologies during pregnancy. However, this does not mean that brown discharge is always a warning sign. In some cases, they are, if not the norm, then absolutely safe, that’s for sure.
Of course, this does not mean that if a pregnant woman discovers brown spotting on her underwear, she should not worry - a lot depends on the accompanying symptoms, the duration of pregnancy, and so on. In any case, the first thing a woman should do is see a doctor. She still won’t be able to make a diagnosis on her own, and the risk is absolutely not justified.
There are many reasons that cause brown discharge during pregnancy. Some of them directly depend on the duration of pregnancy, the rest are not tied to it in any way. And, of course, it makes sense for a woman to know at least the most common of them and understand the mechanism by which discharge appears.
The first trimester is especially rich in the causes of brown discharge during pregnancy. In addition, it is in the early stages that there is the greatest chance that the discharge is safe.
When is brown discharge normal during pregnancy?
In the early stages: 1-2 weeks after conception, the fertilized egg is implanted into the uterine mucosa. During this process, small blood vessels can be damaged, the blood from which is mixed with natural vaginal discharge.
In this case, there will be light brown, perhaps even beige or pink discharge during pregnancy, the consistency of the discharge will be creamy. In addition, they will be singular in nature. Another one distinctive feature discharge associated with the implantation period is that they do not cause the woman any additional inconvenience: they have a neutral odor, do not cause itching, and are not accompanied by pain.
Another important point: at the moment of attachment of the fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus, the woman most likely does not yet know about her pregnancy, and often writes off spotting brown discharge as a malfunction in the menstrual cycle. This is about being careful about your body. If you pay attention to an unusual phenomenon in time, you can assume pregnancy at a very early stage, when other signs have not yet appeared.
One of the reasons why spotting may occur during pregnancy is minor disruptions in the hormonal background of the pregnant woman. Such disruptions can trigger discharge around the time when menstruation should theoretically begin. This phenomenon does not pose any danger to the mother or child and does not cause any unpleasant sensations.
In this case, the discharge is also scanty, but can last a couple of days. Moreover, in some cases, this phenomenon may recur within 2-3 months after pregnancy.
Risk of miscarriage
Unfortunately, this is where the norm ends, and complex and dangerous diagnoses begin. In the vast majority of cases, bleeding during pregnancy indicates a threat of miscarriage. Most often, the threat arises in connection with the detachment of the fertilized egg. Damaged vessels remain at the site of detachment.
The cause of detachment of the ovum is usually a lack of progesterone, a female hormone, the main function of which is to prepare the lining of the uterus - the endometrium - for the implantation of the ovum and maintaining pregnancy until the placenta is formed. If there is little progesterone in a woman’s body or it is not produced at all, the endometrium rejects the fertilized egg.
Discharge when there is a threat of miscarriage can be both scanty and moderate. As a rule, they also have mucus inclusions. There are other symptoms: nagging pain in the lower abdomen, nausea, and in some cases, vomiting.
This condition requires immediate medical intervention. Therefore, if the expectant mother discovers brown discharge, she should immediately call an ambulance, and then lie down and try to calm down. Any physical exercise, and even more so excitement, can only aggravate the situation.
Fortunately, if you seek help in a timely manner, in most cases the pregnancy can be saved. A woman with symptoms of a threatened miscarriage will most likely be hospitalized and undergo additional tests. In addition, measures will be taken immediately to preserve the pregnancy.
Women with abruption of the ovum are usually prescribed medications containing progesterone, such as utrozhestan, and are also prescribed complete bed rest until symptoms subside.
Ectopic pregnancy
Dark discharge during early pregnancy can also indicate a more unpleasant diagnosis: ectopic pregnancy. As the name implies, we are talking about cases when a fertilized egg is implanted not in the uterine cavity, but in the fallopian tube.
The danger of this situation is obvious: as the fetus grows, it can simply rupture the fallopian tube, which will lead to internal bleeding. And this is already a threat to the mother’s life. In addition, after this it will no longer be possible to restore the tube, so an ectopic pregnancy may also lead to a deterioration in reproductive function.
Like most pathologies, ectopic pregnancy causes symptoms other than bleeding. In particular, nagging pain in the abdomen. Usually from the side of the tube where the fertilized egg is attached.
When ectopic pregnancy starting treatment on time is no less important than if there is a threat of miscarriage, although the treatment will be radically different. Unfortunately, in this case there is no question of continuing the pregnancy; it is removed surgically.
Hydatidiform mole
Another extremely unpleasant pathology is called hydatidiform mole. The causes of this complication are not fully understood, but it has been noted that the fetus in this case always has deviations in the chromosome set. As a result, a theory arose that this pathology occurs when an egg is fertilized simultaneously by 2 sperm, or one, but having a double set of chromosomes. As a result, the fetus either has a triple set of chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 46 from the father, or the number of chromosomes turns out to be normal, but they are all paternal.
Since it is the paternal cells that are responsible for the development of the placenta and amniotic sac, they are mainly affected by this pathology. Instead of the formation of a full-fledged placenta, a benign tumor forms on the walls of the uterus: multiple cysts consisting of bubbles with liquid of various sizes.
This pathology can develop in different ways. Sometimes only part of the placental tissue is pathological. In this case, they talk about partial hydatidiform mole. Most often, the fetus in this case dies in the second trimester, but there is a possibility of the birth of a normal child.
A complete hydatidiform mole is characterized by changes in all tissues of the placenta. In this case, the embryo dies in the early stages. Moreover, occasionally the affected tissue penetrates the muscle tissue of the uterus. In this case, tumor bubbles can enter the bloodstream and metastasize. Usually in the vagina and lungs.
Hydatidiform mole manifests itself as bloody discharge, sometimes containing bubbles. In addition, the woman experiences nausea and sometimes vomiting. Less commonly, women suffer from headaches and high blood pressure. To clarify the diagnosis, an ultrasound and a blood test for hCG are performed.
An ultrasound will show the structure of the placenta, the condition of the fetus, and the absence of a heartbeat. In addition, the level of hCG in patients with hydatidiform mole jumps several times.
If a woman is diagnosed with this pathology, the fetus and pathological tissue are removed, and in some cases the uterus has to be removed. If the drift can be removed, then it must be examined after that. The fact is that some women develop cancer as a result of this pathology.
After removal of the hydatidiform mole, the woman remains under medical supervision for some time. If everything goes well, then in 1-2 years the woman will be able to give birth again. Fortunately, hydatidiform mole is extremely rare, not more than 1 time per thousand pregnant women.
Causes in the second trimester
In the second trimester of pregnancy, there are reasons for spotting. Unfortunately, all of them are deviations from the norm, and therefore threaten the condition of the mother and child. And, of course, they need treatment.
Placental abruption
One of the causes of brown discharge in the second trimester is placental abruption. This phenomenon is dangerous for both mother and child. Firstly, the detached placenta is not able to adequately supply the fetus with oxygen and nutrients. In addition, the mother may experience severe bleeding due to placental abruption.
Most often, this problem is faced by women with high blood pressure and women who smoke. Scars on the uterus from abortions or caesarean section, abdominal trauma during pregnancy or an umbilical cord that is too short.
Detachment is manifested by bleeding of varying degrees of severity: from spotting to heavy bleeding, as well as nagging pain in the uterus and tension in the lower abdomen. Most often, detachment of a small part of the placenta occurs, although in rare cases complete detachment can occur.
Placental abruption cannot be treated, so it is usually a caesarean section. In mild cases, they try to postpone it until 30-36 weeks, when there is a chance to save the child. If the situation requires immediate intervention, an emergency caesarean section is performed.
Placenta previa
The diagnosis of placenta previa is made when the placenta partially or completely covers the os of the uterus. In this case, the expanding fetus puts more and more pressure on the placenta and can damage the vessels located on it, which provokes bleeding. Due to high blood pressure Placental abruption may also occur, but in most cases such complications can be avoided.
Naturally, offering the placenta makes delivery impossible. naturally. The only option left is a caesarean section. In addition, this position of the placenta makes it necessary to more carefully monitor the condition of the fetus, since it can compress important vessels, which will provoke oxygen starvation.
Causes in the third trimester
In addition to the fact that in the third trimester, brown discharge may occur for the reasons listed in the previous section, in the last weeks of pregnancy a woman may experience bloody mucous discharge during pregnancy. Most likely, there is nothing to be afraid of in this case.
It is possible that this is just a mucous plug coming off, covering the cervix and protecting the child from infections and other influences from the external environment. Usually the mucus plug comes off a few hours before delivery, although in some cases it happens much earlier.
Causes of brown discharge, regardless of duration
Of course, not all causes of vaginal bleeding are, one way or another, tied to the duration of pregnancy. Some of them can make themselves known at any time. They may be associated with various diseases, structural features of the uterus, and so on.
Cervical erosion
In particular, the cause of spotting brown discharge in pregnant women can be erosion of the cervix. This problem is familiar to many women, both pregnant and giving birth, and those who are yet to do so. However, during pregnancy, the delicate epithelium of the cervix is especially easy to damage. That is why women often first encounter this problem during pregnancy.
Typically, erosion is asymptomatic, but after rough sex or an examination on a genealogy chair, the pregnant woman develops scanty, spotting bleeding. This happens due to the fact that a foreign body disturbs the damaged epithelium.
Cervical erosion in our time is most often treated with cauterization. However, this is not recommended during pregnancy, as the burn can complicate natural childbirth. Therefore, during pregnancy they give preference drug treatment.
Many women have a question: is it necessary to treat erosion during pregnancy? It is better to cure it, as it increases the risk of developing cancer.
Infections and inflammatory processes
Some infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and inflammatory processes also cause vaginal bleeding. In this case, the discharge may be accompanied by various symptoms.
This may include discharge during pregnancy with an unpleasant or specific odor, pain, and the like.
It is not at all necessary that a woman became infected during pregnancy. Often, microorganisms that live in the vaginal microflora do not make themselves known until favorable conditions for reproduction arise. During pregnancy, a woman’s immunity decreases, which provokes the development of the disease. In addition, old, poorly treated infections can make themselves felt.
In this case, it makes sense to remind you that at the pregnancy planning stage it is advisable to undergo a full examination and treat all your illnesses. However, if you are reading this article, then most likely it is too late to talk about it.
Any infection during pregnancy is dangerous not only for the mother’s body, but also for her unborn child, so treatment must be started urgently.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to select medications for pregnant women, since some of them, along with the mother’s blood, penetrate the placenta to the fetus. Modern pharmaceuticals have stepped far forward in this regard, creating new drugs that are safer and with more precise dosages.
This makes the work of doctors somewhat easier. Many women worry about this, however, in any case, it is better to be cured than to risk your health and the health of the baby.
Unfortunately, in most cases, brown spotting during pregnancy indicates a variety of pathologies, abnormalities and diseases. Trying to figure out what exactly is happening on your own is not advisable. It is much wiser to meet with your doctor at the first alarming symptoms and find out exact reason appearance of discharge.
Even if it turns out that nothing bad is happening to you, no one will blame you for your anxiety. It’s always better to know exactly what’s going on than to be afraid to disturb the doctor once and then have to deal with the consequences of a rash act.
Unfortunately, now many women are looking for answers on thematic forums. This should not be done, since every woman’s body is individual. Therefore, the same external manifestations in different women may indicate various diseases.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced physician, and only after additional research. Please note that the more accurately you describe your feelings to the gynecologist, the easier it will be for him to make a diagnosis.
Article verification: Ilona Ganshina,
practicing gynecologist
After a woman finds out that she will soon become a mother, she begins to be more scrupulous about her health. And, naturally, any changes in the functioning of the body are perceived by her as a threat to the continuation of gestation. Especially if brown discharge occurs during pregnancy. After all, they are frequent companions various diseases that could jeopardize further development gestation. Now you will find out whether it can be smeared during pregnancy without pathologies and in what situations.
Oh, this pregnancy!
Before considering the factors that provoke dark discharge, you should talk about the process that occurs in the body after conception. So, initially the gamete is released from its shell (the dominant follicle acts as its role), meets the sperm, is fertilized, and then enters the fallopian tube and moves towards the uterus.
It is here that the further formation of the embryo occurs. But in order to get into the organ cavity, the fertilized gamete needs to penetrate its walls. And this entails minor damage to the small capillaries that permeate all the walls of the uterus, which is why blood begins to leak out of it. When it comes into contact with the external environment, oxidation processes occur, which color it darkish. Therefore, most gynecologists assure that there is nothing wrong with the occurrence of light brown discharge in the early stages of pregnancy.
However, you need to be aware that there is a fine line between pathology and physiology. Discharge at 4 weeks and earlier, which is not accompanied by extraneous symptoms (weakness, fatigue, strong aroma, etc.) is normal for this period and should not cause premature panic. But if spotting at the beginning of pregnancy is accompanied by a deterioration in health or the appearance of other signs of pathologies, then there can be no talk of a normal course of gestation. To determine the true “mechanism” of its occurrence, you will need to undergo a lot of tests.
Just don't panic!
So, as has already become clear, spotting that does not provoke the appearance of intimate area discomfort are completely natural. But the gestation period is 9 months and during this period of time, spotting can appear repeatedly.
Some patients complain of discharge on later and, according to doctors, their appearance is also not a pathology. They occur mainly at 39–40 weeks, when the body begins to prepare for the upcoming birth. It is at this stage of gestation that the body actively produces progesterone, which helps reduce the muscle tone of the cervix and loosen its walls, which ensures the unhindered passage of the baby through the birth canal.
During pregnancy at 39 weeks, the baby's head is already quite large and it puts a lot of pressure on the cervix. And when it has weakened tone and loose walls, such pressure can cause damage to its vessels, which is why spotting may occur during pregnancy several weeks before the onset of labor.
Also, discharge at 41 weeks and earlier can occur as a result of the opening of the birth canal and the removal of the mucus plug from it. At the same time, the secretion itself, released from the vagina, looks like snot and often contains blood or brown streaks. The removal of the plug signals that labor is imminent, and therefore, if it is found on the underwear, it is necessary to tell the doctor about it and be hospitalized.
In women who become pregnant, spotting often occurs during the first month of pregnancy on the days of their expected period. Therefore, many of them have no idea that they will become mothers, perceiving spotting brown discharge as the beginning of menstruation. However, the latter never comes. Instead, a spot appears, which can last for 4–7 days, which is also not considered a pathology, since a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body.
In addition, small discharge often occurs when the body is exposed to the following factors:
- Stress, worries, lack of sleep.
- Taking certain medications.
- Sudden climate change, etc.
Often, brown spotting during early pregnancy is due to the fact that the woman continues to take certain medications without doing a test first and not knowing that she will soon become a mother. These include hormonal agents, antibiotics, sedatives and others. Therefore, if you are taking any medications and you should already be menstruating, but instead you experience discharge interspersed with blood, then you should do a test, or even better, visit a gynecologist right away. Since if you do not stop taking these medications, this can either cause a miscarriage or have a negative impact on the mental and physical development the fetus, because it is at 3–4 weeks of gestation that vital organs are formed.
Discharge after examination by a gynecologist may also appear in some women. Their color varies from light brown to brown. And they appear due to damage to the mucous membranes. Distinctive feature their nature is short-lived.
After visiting a doctor, discharge occurs due to the fact that the gynecological examination was carried out using special instruments. It is carried out this way only at the initial appointment; further instrumental examination is not carried out.
When is discretion needed?
Speaking about why it smears during pregnancy, it should be noted that various pathologies can also be to blame, which you also need to know about. After all, if they are not eliminated in a timely manner, this can lead to serious complications.
One of the most common reasons why many women experience discharge at the beginning of pregnancy or at a later stage. When erosion occurs, a wound forms on the surface of the cervix, which may periodically bleed. As a rule, this occurs as a result of contact of the cervix with foreign objects, for example, during instrumental diagnostics or sex.
If discharge appears in the 6th week of pregnancy and later due to erosive lesions of the cervix, then women may periodically experience unpleasant painful sensations in the abdomen, which intensify after sex or excessive physical exertion.
There is only one way to get rid of erosion - cauterization. But upon the onset of gestation, this procedure cannot be carried out. It can negatively affect the condition of the fetus. Therefore, treatment is carried out conservatively, that is, with the use of medications that can also provoke discharge.
Important! It is imperative to treat this pathology! Otherwise, it can cause not only the appearance of discharge, but also an increased risk of developing cancer! Therefore, this disease cannot be joked about. If it is present, it is necessary to urgently take measures to eliminate it and it is better to do this even before conceiving a child.
Threat of spontaneous miscarriage
Brown discharge on early stages gestational development may signal embryo rejection. This is due to:
- Diseases of the reproductive system.
- Severe emotional stress.
- Pathologies of the endocrine system.
- Hormonal deficiency.
Exposure to at least one of these factors can trigger processes in the body that will lead to rejection of the fertilized egg, resulting in women with smears. brown during early pregnancy. If no measures are taken in a timely manner, this will lead to miscarriage.
Hydatidiform mole
A rare pathology, but when it develops, discharge also often appears in the first trimester of pregnancy. It occurs in two cases:
- When fertilization occurs of a defective egg that does not contain the required number of chromosomes.
- When a healthy egg is fertilized, but by several sperm at once, resulting in an excess of chromosomes.
Discharge appears due to the fact that when there is a deficiency or excess of chromosomes, a tumor forms in the tissues of the placenta. Often it is benign, but in medical practice there have also been cases where the tumor was malignant and metastasized to the vagina and nearby organs.
The tumor itself consists of large quantity small cysts, which appear in the form of vesicles containing liquid exudate. It should be noted that this pathology has two types - complete and incomplete. The first is characterized by complete damage to the placenta, and the second - partial.
Important! If a woman experiences discharge at 8 weeks or earlier due to the development of a hydatidiform mole, she is recommended to have an abortion. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the chances of bearing a child are very small, and secondly, even if gestation proceeds normally, due to a deficiency or excess of chromosomes, the child will still experience pathologies that manifest themselves in the form of an abnormal body structure or improper development of internal organs.
When a hydatidiform mole occurs, not only discharge appears, but also symptoms such as:
- Nausea, often progressing to vomiting.
- Migraine.
- Increase/decrease in blood pressure.
A distinctive feature of this pathology is that the brown spot may bubble in the early stages of pregnancy. But unlike infectious diseases, it does not have a sharp specific aroma and during its development discomfort are also absent from the vagina.
Attachment of the fertilized egg to the fallopian tube
Most women experience heavy discharge in the first weeks of pregnancy for this very reason. At the same time, as the women themselves note, the secretion contains brown clots or streaks of blood.
However, when this disease occurs, not only discharge is observed, but also a number of other symptoms:
- Temperature.
- Nausea.
- Pain in the left or right side of the abdomen, depending on which wall of the fallopian tube the fertilized egg is attached to.
Important! If you have not yet had an ultrasound, but you think that you are pregnant, and at about the seventh week you have pale or dark brown discharge, complemented by the clinical picture described above, you should immediately go to the doctor. A pregnancy of 4 weeks or more must be terminated, since if this is not done, the growing embryo can lead to rupture of the fallopian tube and then it will need to be removed. And after this, conceiving a child naturally will be very problematic.
Placental abruption
This often causes brown discharge to appear at 13 weeks of pregnancy or later, when the placenta has already formed and provides nutrients to the fetus. And if its detachment occurs, this can lead not only to the death of the fetus, but also to a serious threat to the life of the woman herself.
When the placenta begins to detach, not only discharge, but also other symptoms are noted. Among them are:
- Constant feeling of tension in the abdominal muscles.
- Pain syndrome of a pulling and dull nature.
Various factors can provoke the appearance of this pathology. Among them are injuries to the anterior wall of the peritoneum, uterine scars (they are formed mainly after surgical interventions) and the formation of an excessively short umbilical cord.
When placental abruption occurs, women experience dark spotting. They are slimy, thick, and have a creamy consistency.
Cervicitis
With this disease, there may also be discharge. It is characterized by inflammation of the cervical canal, which occurs for several reasons:
- Cervix injuries.
- Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa.
- Infections.
If the appearance of brown mucus during pregnancy is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, then most likely the provocateurs of the disease are infections. It is imperative to undergo tests, since if infectious processes are not eliminated, pregnant women may experience serious health problems. And if infections appear at 8 weeks of gestation or earlier, when the placenta has not yet formed, they can affect the embryo and lead to its abnormal development.
What should I do?
If brown clots begin to come out of your vagina during pregnancy or mild spotting appears at 6–7 months or earlier, you should not hesitate and visit a gynecologist as soon as possible.
There are many reasons that provoke the appearance of light brown discharge. And some of them can result in serious consequences. Especially if we are talking about a developing pregnancy, when the embryo is not yet fully formed.
You need to understand that discharge at week 6 may signal embryo rejection. To verify this, you will need to go through ultrasound diagnostics. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the woman needs urgent hospitalization.
Thus, if there is erosion or the formation of scar tissue on the uterus, a cesarean section may be required, since natural childbirth at 36–41 weeks can be accompanied by serious consequences.
And if you have had a spotting, no matter at what stage of gestation, you must inform your doctor about it. Only he will be able to tell whether the discharge can pose a threat to you or your unborn baby or not. And for this you will need to pass a lot of tests and undergo a comprehensive computer examination.
