- Differences between abortion and menstruation
- Tests that help identify the cause
- What to do if you suspect a miscarriage
Women who think they may be pregnant, but who have experienced vaginal bleeding, may have a hard time identifying whether that bleeding is just a delayed period or whether, in fact, it is a miscarriage, especially if it happened within 4 weeks of the likely date menstruation.
So, the best way to find out is to take a pharmacy pregnancy test as soon as menstruation is delayed. Thus, if it is positive and the woman bleeds in the following weeks, it is more likely that a miscarriage occurred. However, if the test is negative, the bleeding should represent only a delayed menstruation. Here's how to take the pregnancy test correctly.
Differences between abortion and menstruation
Some differences that can help a woman identify whether she has had a miscarriage or a delayed menstruation include:
| Delayed menstruation | Spontaneous abortion | |
| Color | Slightly reddish brown bleeding, similar to previous periods. | Slightly brown bleeding, which turns pink or bright red. It may still smell foul. |
| Amount | It can be absorbed by the absorbent or buffer. | Difficult to contain in the absorbent, soiling panties and clothes. |
| Presence of clots | Small clots may appear on the pad. | Release of larger clots and gray tissue. In some cases, it may be possible to identify the amniotic sac. |
| Pain and cramps | Tolerable pain and cramps in the abdomen, thighs and back, which improve with menstruation. | Very severe pain that comes on suddenly, followed by heavy bleeding. |
| Fever | It is a rare symptom of menstruation. | It can arise in several cases of miscarriage, due to inflammation of the uterus. |
However, the signs of menstruation vary widely from one woman to the next, with some women experiencing little pain during their period, while others experience severe cramps and bleed a lot, making it more difficult to identify whether it is menstruation or abortion.
Thus, it is recommended to consult the gynecologist whenever a menstruation appears with different characteristics from the previous ones, especially when there is a suspicion of being an abortion. Understand that other signs may indicate an abortion.
Tests that help identify the cause
Although the pharmacy pregnancy test can, in some cases, help to identify whether it is an abortion or delayed menstruation, the only way to confirm the diagnosis is to consult the gynecologist for a beta-HCG test or a transvaginal ultrasound.
- Quantitative beta-HCG examination
The beta-HCG test needs to be done on at least two different days to assess whether the levels of this hormone in the blood are decreasing. If this happens, it is a sign that the woman has had an abortion.
However, if the values increase, it means that she may still be pregnant and that the bleeding was only caused by the embryo implanting in the uterus or another cause, and it is recommended to have a transvaginal ultrasound.
If the values remain equal and less than 5mIU / ml, it is likely that there was no pregnancy and, therefore, bleeding is only a delayed menstruation.
- Transvaginal ultrasound
This type of ultrasound allows to obtain an image of the interior of the uterus and other reproductive structures of the woman, such as the tubes and ovaries. Thus, with this exam it is possible to identify if there is an embryo developing in the uterus, in addition to assessing other problems that may have caused the bleeding, such as ectopic pregnancy, for example.
In some rarer cases, ultrasound can indicate that the woman has no embryo or any other changes in the uterus, even when the beta-HCG values are altered. In such cases, the woman may be pregnant and, therefore, it is advisable to repeat the test about 2 weeks later, to assess whether it is already possible to identify the embryo.
What to do if you suspect a miscarriage
In most cases, abortion occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy and, therefore, the bleeding lasts only 2 or 3 days and the symptoms improve during this period, so it is not necessary to go to the gynecologist.
However, when the pain is very severe or the bleeding is very intense, causing tiredness and dizziness, for example, it is advisable to go immediately to the gynecologist or to the hospital to start the appropriate treatment, which may include only the use of medicines to relieve the symptoms. pain or minor emergency surgery to stop bleeding.
In addition, when the woman thinks she has had more than 2 spontaneous abortions it is important to consult the gynecologist to identify if there is a problem, such as endometriosis, that is causing the abortions and that needs to be treated.
See what are the main causes that can cause infertility in women and how to treat.
