Other differential diagnoses you want to exclude in any women presenting with bleeding:
Click on each to read more about it
Placenta partially or wholly covers the cervix
When the glandular cells that line the inside of the cervical canal are on the outer aspect of the cervix
Uterus tears and fetus may be expelled. Rare but most often occurs in late pregnancy or in labour and most commonly at the site of a healed scar such as that of a previous caesarean section
The placenta adheres to the uterine wall and can invade deeply and in extensive cases invade completely through the uterus into other structures such as bladder
Fetal vessels run through the membranes in close proximity to the cervix
May include cervical cancer – remember none pregnancy causes also need excluded
Including marginal abruption – it is possible that there may be a small separation of the placenta or another cause that is not identified.
Need to consider possible causes and women with recurrent bleeding need to consider followed up and scans to ensure fetal wellbeing
