Symptoms of miscarriage might include vaginal bleeding that's bright red or brown, cramping or back pain, and the passing of tissue through the vagina.
Keep in mind: This does not mean that the Pap smear necessarily caused the miscarriage. It's far more likely that the miscarriage symptoms coincidentally happened to appear right after the test.
Nevertheless, if you are worried about getting a Pap test during early pregnancy, discuss your concerns with your prenatal care provider. It's possible that your doctor or midwife will agree to postpone the Pap test until your postpartum checkup, especially if you have a history of normal Pap results. Get diet and wellness tips delivered to your inbox.
What happens during prenatal visits? Updated January 31, American Pregnancy Association. Pap smear. Signs of infection in pap smears and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFamily. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. If necessary, they will request further testing, either after the exam or after receiving results.
Doctors perform pelvic exams during pregnancy for the same reasons. They look for abnormalities and infections. Also, a pelvic exam can help a doctor to evaluate the size of the pelvis and cervix. This will help them to evaluate whether cervical weakness could lead to miscarriage or preterm labor. Pelvic exams are usually done early on in pregnancy. If there are no complications, another exam is performed at around 36 weeks, to check for changes to the cervix.
After that, the doctor will perform an exam as often as needed to determine if the person is in labor. There is little information about the risks of pelvic exams during pregnancy.
It is possible that an exam may increase the risk of infection. Some reviews show that pregnant women who attended exams still experienced complications. In one trial cited, three times more women who were regularly examined experienced preterm ruptured membranes than women who were not examined. ACOG recommends seeing a gynecologist for STI testing if a person becomes sexually active before age 21, but a pelvic exam may not be necessary.
The same organization recommends a Pap smear every 3 years beginning at age For women over 30, it may be a good idea to be screened for human papillomavirus , commonly called HPV, along with a Pap smear. HPV is the virus responsible for cervical cancer. Depending on the results of these tests, the doctor may advise a person to wait up to 5 years between Pap smears.
During this time, it is still a good idea to have a yearly pelvic exam. Women over 65 should continue to have pelvic exams as recommended by a doctor. Only those with histories of gynecological precancer should continue having Pap smears. Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive organs. It can lead to scarring of tissues and organs, and infertility. The ovaries are located on either side of the lower pelvis.
Learn about the possible causes of ovary pain, including cysts and endometriosis. A pelvic laparoscopy is a commonly employed surgical procedure. It can help detect endometriosis, cervical cancer, and other conditions. It can also…. PCOS is a disorder where small fluid-filled cysts form in the ovaries, leading to an imbalance in female sex hormones. Eat a balanced diet that is high in iron and vitamin C. You may be low in iron because of blood loss. Foods rich in iron include red meat, shellfish, eggs, beans, and leafy green vegetables.
Foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, and broccoli. Talk to your doctor about whether you need to take iron pills or a multivitamin. Talk with family, friends, or a counselor if you are having trouble dealing with the loss of your pregnancy. If you feel very sad or depressed for longer than a couple of weeks, talk to a counselor or your doctor.
Talk with your doctor about any future pregnancy plans. If you don't want to get pregnant, ask your doctor about birth control options. After a miscarriage, are you at risk for miscarrying again? Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Symptoms Symptoms of a miscarriage include: Vaginal bleeding that may be light or heavy, constant or irregular.
Although bleeding is often the first sign of a miscarriage, first-trimester bleeding may also occur with a normal pregnancy.
But bleeding with pain is a sign that miscarriage is more likely. You may have pelvic cramps, belly pain, or a persistent, dull ache in your lower back. Pain may start a few hours to several days after bleeding has begun. Blood clots or grayish fetal tissue passing from the vagina.
Risk factors for miscarriage Things that may increase your risk of miscarriage include: Your age, especially at age 35 and older. A history of recurrent miscarriage three or more. Polycystic ovary syndrome , which can cause ovulation problems, obesity, increased male hormone levels, and an increased risk of diabetes.
Certain bacterial or viral infections during pregnancy. A blood-clotting disorder such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Problems with the structure of the uterus such as a uterus with a septum or wall.
Exposure to dangerous chemicals or certain medicines. The father's age, especially after age Alcohol use, cigarette smoking, or cocaine use during pregnancy. Heavy caffeine use during pregnancy. Exams and Tests A miscarriage is diagnosed with: A pelvic exam , which allows the doctor to see whether the cervix is opening dilating or whether there is tissue or blood in the cervical opening or the vagina.
A blood test, which checks the level of the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin hCG. Your doctor may take several measurements of hCG levels over a period of days to learn whether your pregnancy is still progressing. An ultrasound , which helps your doctor find out whether the amniotic sac is intact, detect a fetal heartbeat, and estimate the age of the fetus.
If you have three or more miscarriages, your doctor can test for possible causes, including: Testing your blood for antibodies to check for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Checking for genetic problems. Testing hormone levels to check for polycystic ovary syndrome. Using hysteroscopy or pelvic ultrasound to check for problems with uterine structure.
Treatment Overview There is no treatment that can stop a miscarriage. Threatened miscarriage If you have vaginal bleeding but tests suggest that your pregnancy is still progressing, your doctor may recommend: Resting. You may be advised to temporarily avoid sexual intercourse pelvic rest and heavy activity. Your doctor may recommend bed rest. But no research has shown that these treatments prevent miscarriage. Your doctor may suggest treatment with progesterone.
Research shows it might be helpful for some women. You may be advised to avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen. Use only acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, for nonprescription pain relief. Incomplete miscarriage Sometimes all or some of the fetal tissue stays in the uterus after a pregnancy miscarries. If your doctor determines that you have had an incomplete miscarriage, you will have one or more treatment options: Watchful waiting.
This period of waiting, called expectant management, allows the miscarriage to end naturally while your doctor watches for and treats any complications. Using misoprostol causes the uterus to empty. Dilation and curettage or vacuum aspiration clears the uterus of tissue. These surgeries offer the quickest treatments for a miscarriage. Additional treatment concerns If you are bleeding heavily, you will be tested for anemia and treated if needed.
After a miscarriage If you plan to become pregnant again, check with your doctor. Home Treatment There is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage.
For example, call if: You have sudden, severe pain in your belly or pelvis. You passed out lost consciousness. You have severe vaginal bleeding. Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if: You are dizzy or lightheaded, or you feel like you may faint.
You have new or increased pain in your belly or pelvis. Your vaginal bleeding is getting worse. You have increased pain in the vaginal area. You have a fever. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if: You have new or worse vaginal discharge.
You do not get better as expected.
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