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Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy is not always serious, but can sometimes need urgent treatment. It's important to get advice from a healthcare professional.

Signs of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Signs of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy may include:

  • spots of pink, red or brown blood on your underwear or toilet paper (spotting)
  • larger areas of pink, red or brown blood that may need a period pad (light bleeding)
  • red blood that soaks through a period pad (heavy bleeding) – there may be clots or lumps

The bleeding may be constant, or may come and go.

Urgent advice: Get urgent help if:

You're pregnant and have light bleeding or spotting with:

  • no pain, or mild tummy pain (the pain does not stop you doing daily tasks)
  • diarrhoea, or pain or pressure when you pee or poo

Call your maternity unit if you have the phone number.

If you're less than 20 weeks pregnant, an early pregnancy unit may be able to help. You can find how to contact one on your local NHS trust website or in your maternity notes.

If you do not have a maternity unit yet or cannot contact an early pregnancy unit, call NHS 111.

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

You're pregnant and bleeding and:

  • you have severe pain in your tummy (you cannot focus on TV, read a book or do daily tasks because of the pain)
  • you have pain in your shoulder
  • you feel sick, faint, dizzy or lose consciousness
  • the bleeding is heavy (soaking a period pad soon after putting it on)

These can be signs you need immediate treatment.

Tests to find the cause of vaginal bleeding

To find out what could be causing the vaginal bleeding, you'll be asked about your health, your symptoms and how many weeks pregnant you are.

You may also be asked about any bleeding or pregnancies you've had in the past. If you've been given your maternity notes, take these with you if possible.

If you're at a hospital or early pregnancy unit, a doctor, nurse or midwife may ask to do some checks. These may include:

  • looking inside your vagina
  • an ultrasound scan on your tummy or inside your vagina
  • blood tests
  • testing a sample of your pee (urine)

Causes of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Bleeding in pregnancy can be caused by different things, including:

  • implantation bleeding in very early pregnancy (when the egg implants into the womb)
  • changes to the blood vessels in your cervix (entrance to your womb) which can cause bleeding after sex for example
  • a leak of blood from inside the womb
  • infection (such as a urine infection or sexually transmitted infection)
  • miscarriage
  • ectopic pregnancy
  • molar pregnancy
  • complications with the placenta, such as placenta praevia
  • a "show", when the plug of mucus that seals the opening of your cervix comes away, sometimes with blood – a show can mean labour is starting

Sometimes it's not possible to find the cause of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy.

Treatment for vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Treatment for vaginal bleeding in pregnancy depends on the cause, and may depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.

You may be offered closer monitoring in pregnancy to check the health of you and your baby. This may involve being admitted to hospital.

You may not need treatment if tests find the bleeding is not serious and the pregnancy is healthy.

If you need treatment, this may include:

  • medicine
  • surgery

If you're in the later weeks of pregnancy you may be offered an induction of labour.

If bleeding is caused by placenta problems, you may be offered a caesarean section to help your baby be born safely.

The doctor will discuss the options with you to help you make the right choice for you and your baby.

Page last reviewed: 17 February 2026
Next review due: 17 February 2029