Outcome of pregnancies complicated by early vaginal bleeding

Abstract EN

Objective : To evaluate the effect of early vaginal bleeding before 22 weeks of gestation on the pregnancy outcome.

Design: A Retrospective Study.

Setting : Bahrain Defense Force Hospital.

Method : One hundred ten women who met the criteria were included in the study from January 2005 to January 2006.

The age, timing, severity of bleeding and pregnancy outcome were documented from the previous obstetric history.

The data was described in details and statistical analysis was done.

Result : The average age was 26 years.

Sixty-five (59.1 %) had bleeding during the first trimester, 41 (37.3 %) of them during 9-12 weeks.

Fifty-four (49 %) women were classified as heavy bleeders and 56 (50.9 %) were light bleeders.

Eighty-two (74.5 %) women had suboptimal pregnancy outcomes and 70 (63.6 %) had abortion.

There was no statistical significance between the age and the outcome nor between the gestational age and the outcome ; however, there was highly significant association between heavy bleeding and adverse pregnancy outcome.

Conclusion : Gestational bleeding in early pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome.

The majority of the cases had suboptimal outcome, more than half of them ended with abortion.