Antepartum haemorrhage

For patient information on Placental abruption, click here

For patient information on Placenta previa, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Antepartum haemorrhage
Articles
Most recent articles on Antepartum haemorrhage Most cited articles on Antepartum haemorrhage Review articles on Antepartum haemorrhage Articles on Antepartum haemorrhage in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Antepartum haemorrhage Images of Antepartum haemorrhage Photos of Antepartum haemorrhage Podcasts & MP3s on Antepartum haemorrhage Videos on Antepartum haemorrhage
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Antepartum haemorrhage Bandolier on Antepartum haemorrhage TRIP on Antepartum haemorrhage
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Antepartum haemorrhage at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Antepartum haemorrhage Clinical Trials on Antepartum haemorrhage at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Antepartum haemorrhage NICE Guidance on Antepartum haemorrhage NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Antepartum haemorrhage CDC on Antepartum haemorrhage
Books
Books on Antepartum haemorrhage
News
Antepartum haemorrhage in the news Be alerted to news on Antepartum haemorrhage News trends on Antepartum haemorrhage
Commentary
Blogs on Antepartum haemorrhage
Definitions
Definitions of Antepartum haemorrhage
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Antepartum haemorrhage Discussion groups on Antepartum haemorrhage Patient Handouts on Antepartum haemorrhage Directions to Hospitals Treating Antepartum haemorrhage Risk calculators and risk factors for Antepartum haemorrhage
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Antepartum haemorrhage Causes & Risk Factors for Antepartum haemorrhage Diagnostic studies for Antepartum haemorrhage Treatment of Antepartum haemorrhage
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Antepartum haemorrhage
International
Antepartum haemorrhage en Espanol Antepartum haemorrhage en Francais
Business
Antepartum haemorrhage in the Marketplace Patents on Antepartum haemorrhage
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Antepartum haemorrhage

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Antepartum hemorrhage; APH

Overview

In obstetrics, antepartum haemorrhage is bleeding from the vagina during pregnancy from twenty weeks gestational age to term.

It should be considered a medical emergency (regardless of whether there is pain) and medical attention should be sought immediately, as if it is left untreated it can lead to death of the mother and/or fetus.

Bleeding without pain is most frequently bloody show, which is benign; however, it may also be placenta previa (in which both the mother and fetus are in danger). Painful APH is most frequently placental abruption.

Causes

• Bloody show (benign) - most common cause of APH
• Placental abruption - most common pathological cause
• Placenta previa - second most common pathological cause
• Vasa previa - often difficult to diagnose, frequently leads to fetal demise
• Uterine rupture
• Bleeding from the lower genital tract
  • Cervical bleeding - cervicitis, cervical neoplasm, cervical polyp
  • Bleeding from the vagina itself - trauma, neoplasm
• Bleeding that may be confused with vaginal bleeding
  • GI bleed - hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease
  • Urinary tract bleed - urinary tract infection

Related Chapters

• Obstetrical hemorrhage