Early Pregnancy Loss course for GPs

This session covers the assessment and management of women who present with vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain in early pregnancy and is illustrated through three separate cases.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in July 2020.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Assess women who present with vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy
• Implement the different management options available to women undergoing a miscarriage
• Describe the management options for ectopic pregnancy
• Have an awareness of the psychological issues related to early pregnancy loss

Approximately 25% of women experience vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. It is not always an indication of a problem. However, pain and bleeding can sometimes be due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or rarely a molar pregnancy. It is important for a GP to be able to assess a woman who is bleeding in early pregnancy and take appropriate action to rule out potentially life-threatening causes.