What are the possible causes of spotting during pregnancy?

In some cases, this spotting occurs only as a symptom of ectopic pregnancy. This is a type of pregnancy wherein the fertilized egg naturally attaches to an area outside the uterus. If the fertilized egg attaches to any of the fallopian tubes, this pregnancy is referred to as a tubal pregnancy.

The spotting caused by ectopic pregnancy usually causes dizziness or abdominal pain.

This type of pregnancy can be considered as an emergency case especially if sharp pain and/or bleeding is experienced by the patient.

As all pregnant women are scared of, miscarriage can be characterized by bleeding during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, around 20-30 % of pregnancies lead to miscarriage. A miscarriage can be characterized initially by light bleeding or spotting. It can also be characterized by loss of symptoms of pregnancy and cramping. Nonetheless, it should be borne in mind that there are several women who experience spotting during their pregnancy but do not eventually end up having miscarriage. As a matter of fact, around 50% of them experience a healthy pregnancy and thus, bearing a very healthy child.

Another cause of spotting during pregnancy is implantation.

There is what we call implantation bleeding which takes place after the egg tunnels through the uterus lining. During the implantation of the egg into such lining, slight bleeding occurs. The bleeding comes in the form of brown spotting at the implantation time or a few days after. Spotting can also occur after a sexual activity. Cervical blood supply increases spotting during pregnancy. In some cases, sexual intercourse can cause some irritation to the cervix and thus, leading to slight bleeding. In this case, you must consult a doctor or a nurse and tell them that you had had sexual intercourse before the bleeding or spotting occurred. They may advise you to refrain from having sex in the first trimester of your pregnancy especially if you are experiencing spotting.

The occurrence of spotting during pregnancy may be caused by an internal exam.

A pap smear or internal exam can frequently cause slight spotting to pregnant women. In this case, there is nothing to worry about until the spotting gets worse and results in extreme bleeding. This time, you will need to see a doctor immediately. There are a number of cases where the doctors cannot identify the cause of spotting during pregnancy. However, this situation will urge the doctors to advise you to avoid heavy lifting activities. Exercising may also be excluded from your activities as advised by a doctor.

You must keep in mind that bleeding during pregnancy should never be considered as a normal occurrence but bleeding that occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy is fairly common among many patients. If the situation goes beyond light bleeding or spotting and you already experience cramping and pain, contact your doctor right away so that you can avoid having worse problems and in the worst case scenario, miscarriage awaits you ahead.