The purpose of a gynecological examination during pregnancy
Taking smears is necessary to determine the absence or presence of infection and determine hormonal levels. If the results indicate infection or an inflammatory process, safe medications are prescribed to pregnant women. A woman should undergo treatment to prevent intrauterine infection of the fetus. In case of hormonal instability, maintenance medications are prescribed.
In the last stages of pregnancy, a gynecological examination is needed to check the readiness of the cervix for childbirth. If the mother's body is ready, the cervix will be relaxed and slightly open.
https://youtu.be/zvRurunAelY
Why else may bloody or brown discharge appear after a gynecological examination?
A gynecological examination is quite likely not the main reason for the appearance of discharge, but only a catalyst for the manifestation of symptoms of a particular ailment.
So, bleeding occurs as a symptom of the following diseases and phenomena:
- cervical erosion: Discharge that appears after examination of the cervix is quite a common occurrence if there are erosions on the epithelium. The damaged part of the membrane may periodically bleed without directly touching it; medical intervention only contributes to this;
- endometriosis: in addition to discharge, it is characterized by pain in the abdominal area;
- fibroids: such a neoplasm periodically bleeds, which can appear immediately after an appointment with a gynecologist;
- swelling: doctor’s manipulations can cause bloody mucus to appear;
- endometrial hyperplasia: with this disease, the mucous membrane thickens, and, as a result, its particles come off when touched, which causes spotting mucus;
- polyps in the cervical canal area: they are injured by any touch, which causes characteristic spotting;
- infections: provoke the development of an inflammatory process on the vaginal mucosa, making it sensitive to mechanical stress.
Why does brown or bloody discharge appear after an examination by a gynecologist?
Sometimes after examination by a gynecologist, bleeding may appear. This can be either normal or indicate some kind of pathology. Most often, a brown “smear” can appear when the doctor makes mistakes during the examination, when the cervix or vaginal mucosa is slightly injured by a gynecological speculum. In this case, the discharge does not pose a danger and will go away within a day.
Bloody or brown discharge may also appear after gynecological operations and procedures, for example, when applying obstetric sutures to the cervical part of the uterus. This procedure is performed mainly from 18 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. The indication for suturing is shortening of the cervix and the threat of premature birth. After the intervention, mucus with bloody streaks or a brown “daub” may be released for some time, which is considered normal. This is how the female body reacts to intervention.
Brown discharge before childbirth is often a sign that the plug has come out and the labor process has begun. The plug performs a protective function and prevents intrauterine infection of the fetus. It is formed in the cervix under the influence of hormones. When the cervix shortens, the pregnant woman notices light yellow, brown, pink discharge with blood streaks on her underwear.
After the plug completely comes out, a woman sometimes immediately starts having contractions or her water breaks (we recommend reading: what does the plug look like and at what stage of pregnancy does the plug come out?). In other situations, labor begins within the next 2 weeks. After the plug comes out, a pregnant woman should be more attentive to her health and adhere to hygiene rules in order to avoid infectious contamination of herself and her baby.
Discharge after examination by a gynecologist during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the frequency of any activities in the vaginal area decreases significantly. You should be especially careful with them in the early stages, when there is the highest risk of miscarriage. Because of this, the doctor tries to carry out any manipulations no earlier than 8 weeks. In this case, there is a possibility of blood particles or brown stains appearing in the mucus.
Discharge after examination by a gynecologist during pregnancy can be caused by:
- trauma to mucosal tissues: during pregnancy, a large amount of blood flows to the genitals, which makes the vagina and cervix especially sensitive to the touch of medical instruments;
- the passage of a mucus plug, which coincided with an appointment with a gynecologist: usually at 38 weeks, the doctor suggests undergoing an examination on a chair to look at the readiness of the cervix for labor;
- injury to the internal genital organs - this is a dangerous phenomenon and requires prompt medical attention;
- abruption or placenta previa - this is typical for pregnant women who have problems with the course of pregnancy. In this case, the inspection becomes a catalyst for such negative processes.
Brown discharge during pregnancy after examination, especially in the later stages (38-40 weeks), should not cause alarm unless it is accompanied by other unpleasant signs (inflammation, itching, etc.). Often, spotting after examination at 40 weeks of pregnancy becomes a harbinger of labor. Brown discharge may also appear in women before childbirth; these are signs of the same phenomenon.
Care should be taken when a similar symptom appears in the second trimester. If in the early stages of pregnancy it may be the result of any hormonal changes or implantation of the fertilized egg, then later it will indicate a possible pathological condition.
In any case, all unusual signs during pregnancy should be promptly reported to the gynecologist who is observing you. He will also tell you if the body is ready to give birth.
In what cases is this dangerous?
Normally, every pregnant woman has scanty colorless discharge, light gray, milky or with a yellowish tint, and it should have no odor. Any deviations from the norm during the period of bearing a child can signal pathological phenomena in the reproductive system or the health of the fetus.
However, it is bloody discharge caused by outside interference that poses a particular danger. They can be a normal physiological indicator or a pathology. Let's consider situations when, if bloody discharge appears, you immediately need to seek help:
- There was heavy bleeding. It happens that during an examination, especially during palpation, an inexperienced specialist provokes an abortion with his careless actions.
- Feeling the internal reproductive organs during examination can cause a frozen pregnancy. This happens in the first weeks of pregnancy, when embryonic organs are laid down. In this case, after visiting a gynecologist, a woman experiences “spotting” for more than 3 days, and in some cases dark blood clots or heavy bleeding are released.
- If the discharge is bright red or scarlet, this often indicates placental abruption and internal bleeding. In such a situation, you should immediately call an ambulance, and the pregnant woman should take a lying position and not move until the medical team arrives. Late treatment can cause the death of not only the child, but also the mother.
- If bleeding is accompanied by severe pain, it may be an ectopic pregnancy. You need to call an ambulance.
- It is worth seeking advice from a gynecologist if any discharge appears that is different from the norm. There is a high probability of injury during a routine examination of a pregnant woman. In addition, the uterus can respond to injury with contraction (tone), provoking cervical shortening, which often leads to spontaneous abortion.
- You should not hesitate if a woman, along with bloody discharge, experiences fever, dizziness, instability of blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, nausea, vomiting, general weakness and malaise. The presence of these or other signs may indicate a pathological pregnancy.
- Urgent consultation with a doctor is also necessary if the discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant odor. It may indicate the presence of a dangerous infection that poses a threat to the baby’s life.
Any brown or red discharge during pregnancy requires consultation with a doctor (we recommend reading: brown discharge in early pregnancy). They may not pose any danger to the woman and baby, but it’s still worth taking precautions.
Other circumstances
Very often, a woman may not even be aware that she is pregnant. In the first week of pregnancy, when it is difficult to determine the presence of a fertilized egg in the body, damage can easily be caused that will lead to a miscarriage.
Sometimes during pregnancy, after visiting an antenatal clinic (GC), spotting may appear. This may indicate placental abruption, various damage to the cervix, or indicate that premature labor is beginning. There can be many reasons , and inspection has absolutely nothing to do with it.
There are cases when, during a careless examination, severe bleeding occurs, while the patient feels pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. If this happens, you need to urgently call an ambulance.
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What to do?
If you detect discharge mixed with blood, a pregnant woman first needs to calm down. If the trouble happened in the last stages of pregnancy, before giving birth, you should study the nature of the discharge. Scanty brown or dark discharge is most often the norm. However, a woman still needs to consult a doctor about this by phone or in person.
If there is heavy bleeding with cramping pain, you need to call an ambulance. Immediate help is also needed when the discharge is bright red. This pathology always poses a threat to the life of the mother and baby. If it is detected, the woman should take a supine position and wait for help.
Useful video
Often, menstruation with clots can appear in a completely healthy girl. But more often it indicates the presence of pathologies. Particular attention - black menstruation with clots.
Even completely healthy women experience spotting during ovulation. This is how the body can react to stress, flights and other factors. However, if they become regular and are accompanied by additional symptoms, then you need to see a doctor.
If the lower abdomen hurts and bloody discharge appears, this does not always indicate a disease. For example, it happens during ovulation or early pregnancy. Still, it’s better to play it safe and go to the doctor.
Often, periods with the IUD are the same as without it. However, sometimes an individual reaction may be the opposite - bleeding will begin. When is the best time to remove the coil? What are the normal periods?
It is mandatory to visit a gynecologist. Doctors recommend doing this regularly about twice a year. This will make it possible to detect possible pathologies in a timely manner. Bloody discharge after examination by a gynecologist is often physiological and does not require treatment. However, during the examination it is also possible to introduce an infectious process.
Women should undergo regular examinations by a gynecologist.
Causes
Scanty bleeding in a woman after an examination by a gynecologist is not uncommon after a planned visit to the doctor, and there is no reason to be especially worried. Microtrauma of blood vessels and minor damage to the mucous membrane is why there is bleeding after examination by a gynecologist.
Usually, the doctor takes a smear and uses a gynecological speculum during his manipulations. The analysis is taken from the mucous membrane, urethra and cervical canals of the uterus. In a word, they simply scrape off the test material from the vagina or other organ. Accordingly, the tissues are damaged and may bleed for some time. The main thing is that the bleeding is short-lived and stops very quickly. In any case, you need to monitor your health.
After an examination by a gynecologist, blood began to flow and did not stop bleeding for a long time, and it was also accompanied by itching in the groin, pain, and an incessant burning sensation, then you need to seek help immediately, accurately describing all the sensations. Perhaps this injury is making itself felt, or perhaps some kind of disease has manifested itself.
Possibility of injury by a doctor
There have been sad and unpleasant cases when various bacterial and viral infections were contracted to patients by the doctor. There is no need to be embarrassed here and it is simply necessary to undergo a medical examination again.
Reasons for the appearance of discharge after a gynecological examination
Visits to specialists of this kind involve certain manipulations in the vaginal area. The appearance of bloody discharge after examination by a doctor can be the result of:
- careless use of instruments: they are used to examine the inside of the vagina, and its mucous membrane, like the surface of the cervix, is very sensitive and easily damaged;
- patient behavior: vaginal tension or fidgeting during manipulations contribute to injury to mucosal tissue;
- Taking a smear is a necessary procedure to determine the health of the genital organs; it involves collecting cells from the mucous membrane with a special instrument resembling a brush or a small brush. During its implementation, the tissues may be slightly damaged and cause spotting and bloody discharge after visiting the gynecologist;
- the beginning of menstruation: manipulations performed inside the vagina can provoke its onset ahead of schedule, as a result of which a brownish secretion may initially appear.
The above factors are usually not harmful to health. Normally, after an examination by a gynecologist, the discharge will bother you for a maximum of one or two days. If after this time the symptom does not go away, you need to seek help. It also happens that after a gynecologist, or more precisely, after his actions, there is pain in the lower abdomen, burning and itching in an intimate place without discharge.
If the discomfort does not go away after a couple of days, then you need to visit the hospital. It is possible that an infection was introduced during the doctor's examination.
We cannot exclude the possibility that the time of the appearance of the pathological secretion only coincided with the date of the examination and the reason for its appearance was not a visit to the doctor. We recommend that you study information about what discharge can be during pregnancy and what they mean in our article at the link.
Is this normal
A woman’s uterus is intensively supplied with plasma and if it bleeds a little, then this is normal and there is no need to be upset. If this happens after using a speculum, and the walls of the vessels are weak, then this is also not considered a pathology. It may be enough to change a specialist who will conduct the appointment more carefully. It is considered typical when pregnant women, after visiting a doctor, experience pain when emptying the bladder. This is associated with the collection of the test material for analysis and, most likely, injury occurred.
So, if, after an examination by a gynecologist, blood or light spotting begins to appear, this is normal in cases of physical damage from the speculum. There is no reason to worry. It is important to remember the duration of these processes. They must take place in the shortest possible time.
After the examination, blood began to flow - this is normal.
Quite often there are situations when, after an examination, a woman develops spotting. This may also be within the normal range, because the cervix is supplied with blood, especially during pregnancy. If light spotting appears after the gynecologist, then do not immediately despair.
Perhaps this happened due to slight mechanical damage to the gynecological speculum. Weakening of the walls of blood vessels is not a pathology, it is rather a purely individual characteristic. Therefore, there is no reason to worry. Perhaps it is enough to simply change the doctor to a more accurate one. It is also normal for pregnant women, after examination, to experience mild pain during urination. This is also due to the fact that a slight violation could occur during the analysis.
We can say that all bloody discharge or light spotting after an examination by a gynecologist that appears as a result of mechanical damage to the gynecological speculum is normal. There is no reason to worry. Also, do not forget about time, that all allocations must end as soon as possible.
What are the dangers of inspections?
Regular gynecological examination is the main aspect of a woman’s health. In some cases, diseases detected in time are treated quickly and effectively. Any examination of a woman includes taking a smear. It is the cells of the mucous membrane that are studied in the laboratory. There are situations when careless examination causes serious problems in patients, accompanied by severe bleeding and pain in the lower back and abdomen. In such cases, immediate medical attention and follow-up therapy are required.
Each organism is individual. Therefore, it is believed that after consultation and examination, discomfort and slight spotting are normal. If a woman’s condition lasts for several days, then this is a serious danger and she urgently needs to consult a doctor. Everything is much more confusing when it comes to a number of certain diseases. Basically, the doctor personally determines whether there are any disorders and diseases or inquires about them in advance from the patient’s medical card.
Discharge after examination by a gynecologist during pregnancy
Absolutely every girl should undergo a gynecological examination every year. It is advisable to do this more often – if possible. If a woman is pregnant, then do this procedure as often as possible. Some representatives of the fair sex deliberately refuse to consult a gynecologist because, as a result of the last examination, they felt pain, discomfort, bloody discharge, and pain in the lower abdomen. There are two explanations for this: careless and unprofessional treatment by the doctor and pathologies that result in a painful sensation. During pregnancy, bloody discharge after examination by a gynecologist is a signal of serious disorders occurring in the body. If there are none, and blood still flows after the examination, this is explained by the fact that the gynecologist used a gynecological speculum during the examination. A similar device is designed to examine a woman’s vagina and cervix. When a doctor handles a speculum carelessly, the vaginal mucosa is damaged, resulting in bleeding of varying degrees.
When taking a smear, cells from the vaginal mucosa are taken from a woman, and as a result, microtrauma occurs. If the bleeding does not stop, you should urgently consult a doctor. Most likely, some kind of disturbance occurred and as a result bleeding began. It should not be ruled out that this may be some kind of pathological process. In any case, whatever the true cause of the bleeding, you need to seek emergency help, because the woman risks not only her health, but also the life and health of the baby. Also, one should not deny cases when, during an examination, a doctor can introduce an infection or bacteria if he conducts an examination with unhygienic gloves or an unsanitized device.
There are often situations when a woman bleeds after an examination. In some cases this may of course be the norm. This is explained by the fact that a woman’s cervix is fed with blood, especially during pregnancy. So you shouldn’t always panic if you see blood on a pad. Most likely, minor bleeding occurs as a result of fairly mild mechanical damage from a metal speculum. The individual characteristics of the structure of a woman’s uterus can be due to rather weak walls of blood vessels. In this case, there is no particular reason for panic and concern; the main thing is to find a doctor who can really point out the pathology. A pregnant woman should not be nervous and worried again. Don’t despair, try changing your gynecologist to a more careful and attentive one, as well as a more professional one. Normally, women during pregnancy may experience fairly minor bleeding, which is observed during urination. This sensation is also due to the fact that after a woman’s urine is taken, minor mechanical damage to the membranes may occur.
So, if bloody discharge or minor spotting appeared after an examination by a gynecologist with mechanical objects, then this is the norm. This phenomenon cannot be attributed to the most common pathologies that threaten danger.
It was noted above that gynecological examinations should become a mandatory occurrence in a woman’s life. It is worth understanding that absolutely all gynecological examinations are aimed at taking a smear from the walls of the woman’s vagina. This procedure is performed on both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Only the cells of the mucous membrane of the cervix and vagina carry information about the development of various gynecological pathologies. Of course, there are cases when, after a very careless examination, a woman may develop serious problems, due to which bleeding begins and pain appears in the lower abdomen. In such clinical cases, it is necessary to provide the woman with urgent first aid and prescribe therapy. All women undergo a gynecological examination differently. Be mentally prepared for the fact that after the examination you may feel pain in the lower abdomen and there will be a slight smear from the vagina. If you experience bleeding and it does not stop for several hours or even days, then consult a doctor without delay.
What to do
Many women do not know what to do if they are bleeding and, when confused, begin to panic, especially after a gynecological examination. First you need to monitor your health - identify what the characteristic features of the discharge are. If little blood comes out and it stops quickly, there should be no cause for concern. You need to rest a little to calm your body.
And if a woman bleeds the next day, then this is already bad. Then you need to make an appointment again. It is quite possible that a serious disorder has arisen or some disease has manifested itself.
It happens that the blood flows so much that it can be confused with menstruation. In this case; you must not hesitate, but call an ambulance, otherwise the blood loss will be too severe and life-threatening.
Indeed, as a result of careless manipulations during examination, significant injury to the internal genital organs could occur.
Should you worry about bleeding in late pregnancy?
Several circumstances may be responsible for the mixture of blood in the discharge after the examination:
- Doctor's negligence. An examination to assess the condition of the cervix occurs using a gynecological speculum with a hard surface. They can easily damage the delicate vaginal mucosa, which will result in brown discharge after examination of the cervix.
- The patient herself. If a woman is overly nervous, she may make involuntary movements and tense during the procedure. This contributes to injury to the mucous membrane.
- The need to take a smear. The manipulation involves peeling off the cells of the vaginal mucosa to analyze the condition of the organ. There is no way to do this without damaging the shell.
- The onset of menstruation. Menstrual bleeding rarely opens profusely; in most women it begins with small discharge. Despite the fact that everyone is tracking the dates of the “red days,” excitement and other circumstances can hasten their arrival or delay them. And menstruation will coincide with the day of the examination.
Bloody discharge caused by these reasons is not dangerous.
Even with an ideal manipulation, minor smearing may occur for the reasons mentioned earlier, as well as mild pain and discomfort. The sensations will be more noticeable for those who have not yet undergone childbirth. Their vaginal muscles are less extensible, and access to the cervix is narrow compared to the genital tract of women who have given birth.
The same applies to pregnant women. If there is little discharge, there is practically no pain, there is no reason for fear.
It’s a different matter if the discharge with blood is intense and other signs are present. This is abnormal and even dangerous if:
- there was severe pain in the lower abdomen or vagina;
- discomfort does not go away over time, but intensifies;
- shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat appeared;
- a burning sensation is felt in the genitals;
- the discharge has a strong unpleasant odor;
- the temperature has risen;
- inclusions of pus and other strange impurities were found in the mucus.
If bleeding lasts more than one hour, you need to call emergency help. If a woman feels that there is no need for this, she should go to a specialist on her own the next day.
Pregnant women should pay special attention to this. Any trouble that happens can threaten not only their health, but also the existence of the fetus. Even if the discharge is caused by a hormonal imbalance, the balance needs to be restored as soon as possible. And for this you need to immediately seek help. The threat of miscarriage identified at an early stage is eliminated without consequences. Delay may result in termination of pregnancy.
Even a completely healthy woman may have questions after a visit to the gynecologist. For example, if after examination a woman discovers bloody discharge from the vagina.
Firstly, this can be caused by an uncomfortable examination - if the woman is extremely afraid and squeezes her vagina, preventing the procedure, or the doctor is caught in the rude category, which is extremely rare. In this case, the mirrors can accidentally pinch and damage the mucous membrane. The discharge will be insignificant, most likely dark brown in color, and will go away in a day or two.
In addition, by chance the time of examination may coincide with the onset of menstruation. In this case, it may also seem that the discharge began after a visit to the gynecologist.
Also, spotting after examination by a gynecologist is allowed in the following situations:
- if a cervical biopsy was performed;
- if endometrial aspiration was performed for analysis;
- after performing a mini-abortion (“cycle regulation”, vacuum aspiration);
- after removing/installing the spiral;
- after removal of polyps, condylomas and other formations on the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix on an outpatient basis;
- cauterization of the cervix was performed.
Polyp removal
However, in these cases, the discharge should be copious, and there should be no clots or bleeding.
Bloody discharge in late pregnancy may indicate placental abruption and the development of a life-threatening condition for the woman and baby. However, in no case can this be provoked by a doctor’s examination.
The only possible situation of iatrogenicity (harm to a woman by medical personnel) is bleeding immediately after examination under the condition of central placenta previa, if the doctor is not aware of this.
Attempting to palpate the cervix or observe dilatation (for example, if a woman is in labor) can lead to damage to the placental tissue and profuse bleeding. Its distinctive feature is that it is extremely abundant and straight from the examination room the woman is transferred to the hospital, with a high probability - to the operating room.
The remaining spotting during late pregnancy, as a rule, does not pose a threat to the woman and child. The cervix remains vulnerable throughout pregnancy. And if there are scar changes or erosion on it, then the risks of spotting after examination increase.
The doctor’s task is to help, not harm or aggravate the situation. Therefore, you should not be afraid and wait for some kind of danger before examining a gynecologist. The most common myths you hear are:
- In the early stages of pregnancy, an examination may cause its termination. Some believe and even then blame the doctor for the fact that a miscarriage occurred or a frozen pregnancy occurred after examination, believing that if the examination is carried out at the earliest stage, when the fertilized egg has not attached to the wall of the uterus, a miscarriage can be provoked.
However, this is fundamentally wrong. And if it so happens that the symptoms of interruption began after the examination, then this is a coincidence, or the threat was there even before that.
- In the later stages of pregnancy, after examination, water began to flow or contractions began. This is possible, however, under certain conditions - if the amniotic sac prolapses into the vagina and water would flow under any circumstances in the next 24 hours.
- The doctor uses unsterile equipment, so you can get an infection. Proper processing, disinfection and sterilization of instruments are strictly monitored, which is why they usually “attribute” their illnesses to the doctor. It should also be taken into account that today preference is increasingly given to disposable sterile instruments.
- An examination by a gynecologist provoked an exacerbation of chronic diseases in the pelvis. Often, after a visit to the gynecologist, a woman feels increased pain in the lower abdomen and other uncomfortable sensations. However, this is not due to the doctor’s incompetence; it is just a sign of the presence of chronic foci of infection in the pelvis.
Most often, the doctor warns that after his examination, discharge may appear so that the woman does not worry in vain. If nothing was said about this, then you should tell the doctor about the discharge at your next appointment or when the test results are ready. This is an important addition to a woman's medical history.
Recommendations for spotting are as follows:
- if any manipulations were performed, you should strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations;
- you should abstain from sexual intercourse;
- perform normal hygiene procedures;
- Use pads rather than tampons to control discharge;
- If the discharge continues for more than five days or intensifies, or additional symptoms appear (itching, burning, unpleasant odor), you should consult a doctor.
If a woman has a heavy discharge and suspects bleeding, she should seek emergency medical help immediately. Particular vigilance should be exercised if pregnancy is not excluded or confirmed. Signs of bleeding are as follows:
- There is a lot of discharge - you have to change your maxi pad every two hours;
- large clots come out;
- against the background of heavy discharge - nagging pain in the lower abdomen (may not exist).
And here is more information about why spotting appeared after playing sports.
The doctor’s task is to help understand a woman’s problems and find the most rational ways out of the current situation. The presence of cervical diseases and other conditions can provoke harmless spotting after examination, which goes away on its own and does not affect the woman’s health. In doubtful cases, you should consult your doctor again.
If spotting appears after a routine examination in the chair, this is not always the norm. Why does the cervix bleed? In medical practice, there is such a thing as “contact hemorrhage,” that is, bleeding appears as a result of existing diseases. Such pathologies include:
- Endometriosis. This is the growth of endometrial cells beyond the inner layer of the uterine wall. A woman may not even suspect the presence of the disease. The symptomatic picture is not expressed. Endometriosis can be detected during an examination by a gynecologist. A woman may experience a dull pain in the lower abdomen and mild bleeding.
- Polyps. These are benign formations consisting of connective tissue. The polyp has the shape of a cylinder. They are localized in the cervical canal. All polyps have blood vessels. The more there are, the richer the burgundy color. During a standard examination using a mirror, the doctor may injure the polyp, which will lead to the appearance of blood.
- Erosion. This is a violation of the integrity of the cervical mucosa. Erosion is asymptomatic, so the defect can only be identified upon examination. When in contact with a speculum, the cervix bleeds. Depending on the type of erosion, other external signs of pathology may be present.
- Endometrial hyperplasia. This is a disease of the inner lining of the uterus, characterized by changes in the stroma and glands of the endometrium. The endometrium thickens significantly, and mucosal cells proliferate. Pathology is often discovered during a routine ultrasound or examination by a gynecologist-obstetrician. Hyperplasia may be accompanied by symptoms such as menstrual irregularities, spotting between periods, and infertility.
- Myoma. This is a benign formation that is located in the tissues of the uterus. Myoma has a heterogeneous structure and consists of fibrous tissue and muscle elements. With fibroids, bleeding, chills, weakness, pain, and menstrual irregularities are observed.
Emerging diseases
When blood starts to flow after an examination by a gynecologist, this is probably a harbinger of certain ailments. Endometriosis, for example, is accompanied by severe aching pain. This often manifests itself after visiting a specialist. And during menstruation, this torment is unbearable and the woman unknowingly takes painkillers.
Impurities of blood in a woman’s discharge can signal the growth of the endometrial layer. These pathological manifestations are caused not only by an appointment with a doctor, but also by a hormonal disorder with an excessive amount of estrogen in the body, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Before making a diagnosis yourself, you need to consult and undergo a series of tests.
If after an appointment with a doctor you suddenly bleed, then it is possible that uterine polyps have formed, consisting of endometrioid cells. These tumors, which are benign in nature at the very beginning, do not cause noticeable symptoms of the disease, pain or discomfort. Basically, they don't show up at all. Especially if your immune system is strong enough. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination, can reveal their presence.
Symptoms of endometrioid disease include bleeding between periods, pain after sexual intercourse, and uterine pain, and disruption of the menstrual cycle. If treatment is not started immediately, you may encounter more serious diseases leading to infertility.
Sexually transmitted infections always manifest themselves as vaginal itching, burning, discomfort, pain after or during sexual intercourse, a fishy rotten odor and pain. If a woman exhibits the listed symptoms, she needs to seek help from a doctor and begin treatment. Many infectious diseases cause infertility, negatively affecting the functioning of the female reproductive system. Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and mycoplasmosis are detected.
Dangers of Gynecological Exams
As stated above, all gynecological examinations are necessary, and in some cases especially useful. Firstly, all such examinations are designed to take a smear from the walls of the vagina and cervix. Mucosal cells are precisely the substance for laboratory research.
There are cases when, after extremely careless examinations, women experience serious problems, accompanied by bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen. In such cases, urgent assistance and further treatment are necessary. It’s different for every woman, so it’s normal to experience some discomfort or mild ointment after the examination. If blood appears scarlet or dark for several hours or even days, you should consult a doctor.
As for various diseases, in this case everything is much more complicated. As a rule, the doctor himself must determine the presence of the disease or know about it in advance - from the woman’s medical history. There is also a so-called two-handed examination, during which the doctor examines the position of the organs, their sizes, the presence of the necessary adhesions, as well as the possibility of developing the disease. Unfortunately, even after such an examination, slight bleeding or discomfort in the lower abdomen is possible.
Any intervention can be dangerous, especially for a pregnant woman. Therefore, take the examination of a gynecologist seriously, in particular, the choice of a specialist.
Diagnostics
If the girl’s bleeding is too serious and profuse, the examination will be extremely difficult. Therefore, the patient is sent for an ultrasound examination. It is harmless even during pregnancy. With its help, the timing of pregnancy, the position of the fetus, the presence of uterine pathologies and a number of other disorders are revealed. An ultrasound is prescribed after a routine examination by a doctor to clarify the diagnosis, if necessary.
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs
This is a complex measure with the help of which the clinical picture of the course of pregnancy and the development of a particular disease is determined. Often this is an excellent diagnosis of diseases with bleeding, brown discharge and pathologies that the patient is not even aware of. If the discharge is not too abundant, then an examination by a doctor with a mirror is possible. As a rule, a small amount of bleeding does not interfere with clarifying the type of disease, establishing an accurate diagnosis and identifying the root cause of bleeding events.
When discharge is the result of disease
If spotting or bright blood appears after intimate relations, this is considered a more alarming sign and one of the early symptoms of cervical cancer. Therefore, in this case, the woman should be examined as quickly and thoroughly as possible. This will help identify the tumor in the early stages, although spotting on its own appears the second and subsequent times.
Other causes of contact discharge and those that are possible after examination by a gynecologist include the following:
- Polyps of the cervical canal. Large and inflamed bloody discharge is especially common when taking smears or simply during a vaginal examination.
- Erosion and ectopia of the cervix. In this case, the vessels are close to the surface epithelium and are easily injured. The larger the size of the erosion or ectopia, the higher the likelihood of discharge appearing after examination. Also, the risks are higher with inflammation and tissue degeneration (dysplasia, leukoplakia).
- Inflammation of the cervix. At the same time, the tissues are loose and engorged with blood. It is simply impossible not to injure them during inspection. After treatment, everything usually goes away.
- Endometrioid lesion of the cervix. Bloody discharge does not always appear only if foci of endometriosis are affected or tissue is injured.
Discharge can be provoked by examination if a woman has a pathology of the uterine cavity - most often polyps.
A slight spotting should not cause alarm; most often the doctor warns about this possibility during the examination. They are dangerous - abundant, with clots, but they can only appear if the woman came to the appointment already with chorionic detachment and the threat of interruption, and the examination itself provoked the appearance of discharge that had accumulated in the uterine cavity.
In pregnant women
The most dangerous irreversible consequence of bleeding in pregnant women is self-abortion. This should be especially feared when bloody discharge appears in pregnant women after examination. If they are accompanied by dizziness, headache, nausea, general malaise, weakness, brown spotting, then this is a sign of a threat. In cases where the doctor himself cannot determine the exact period of pregnancy, he gives a referral for an ultrasound examination.
Mild bleeding in a pregnant woman can be symptoms of other pathologies and disorders, which are also not recommended to be treated negligently. There are a lot of other unpleasant moments that are purely specific to each woman, so you should be more attentive to yourself and, having heard from the doctor a verdict about the threat and bleeding after a miscarriage, do not ignore his recommendations and prescriptions. Perhaps the patient will be sent to a hospital for preservation, where she will receive high-quality drug treatment and maintain the pregnancy until childbirth.
The danger that appears after a pregnant woman is examined by a gynecologist can be called a miscarriage.
In the practice of doctors, regrettable facts of a similar nature have occurred. When in the very early stages of about 10 days, the doctor, carelessly making sudden movements during the examination, provoked a miscarriage. As a result, the patient began to bleed after examination, sometimes only the next day. As a result, it is impossible to cure and save the fetus.
And if the patient and the doctor are aware of her situation, and after the examination, discharge and incessant viscous pain in the abdomen begin, then this is the main signal of negative changes and the threat of miscarriage.
If we focus more specifically on diseases, these can be erosion, papillomavirus, endometriosis and many others. This kind of illness can cause bleeding. The main thing is to start treatment on time when they are identified. Erosion is caused by many factors and their treatment cannot be delayed.
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What to do if there is bleeding after a gynecological examination?
First, it is necessary to determine the nature of the bleeding. If the blood is scarlet and smears only a little, then this may not be a cause for concern. In this case, you just need to rest and lie down for a while, which will calm your body a little.
Secondly, you need to determine the bleeding time, or rather its duration. Discharge is allowed after examination on the first day. Anything that has passed on the second or third day is dangerous. In this case, it is better to go back to the doctor. Perhaps a characteristic disorder has arisen or this is how your disease manifests itself.
There are cases when the bleeding is so strong that it is quite similar to menstruation. Then it is better to call an ambulance, otherwise you may lose a lot of blood. As a result of the examination, injury to the mucous membrane of the cervix or the vagina itself could occur.
The first case is difficult to call a disease, but it really exists. It's a miscarriage. There are quite a lot of situations when in the early stages of pregnancy, about 10 days, the gynecologist himself may not notice this and with sudden movements provoke a miscarriage. Thus, after examination, blood appears, perhaps not immediately, but only on the second day. In such cases, it is too late to engage in treatment.
If you know that you are pregnant and after a gynecological examination, spotting or nagging pain in the lower abdomen appears, then this is a clear signal of the presence of significant deviations in the course of pregnancy. As for specific diseases, this could be cervical erosion, the presence of papillomavirus, endometriosis and others. Such diseases may well be the cause of spotting after examination. Therefore, it is important to start treatment as quickly as possible.
As for cervical erosion, this disease can occur for a variety of reasons, but you need to seriously think about other diseases.
In addition to the fact that after examination, if there is a disease, bloody discharge occurs, some symptoms may be characteristic of a specific disease. For example, with endometriosis, there is aching pain in the lower abdomen. Most often this happens after a gynecological examination, and during menstruation the pain is sometimes simply unbearable.
As for blood impurities, they occur with endometrial hyperplasia. It is worth noting that such manifestations can be provoked not only by an examination by a gynecologist, but also by hormonal imbalance, excess estrogen, obesity or the presence of diabetes. Therefore, before making hasty conclusions, you need to consult a doctor.
The cause of the appearance of blood can be uterine polyps, which consist of endometriotic cells. Such benign neoplasms in the initial stages do not cause any discomfort and most often do not manifest themselves at all. With a professional examination, the doctor can determine their presence. Symptoms of the presence of polyps may include extramenstrual bleeding, pain in the uterus or after sex, regular delays in menstruation, and others. If you do not get rid of this problem in time, infertility may develop in the future.
All sexually transmitted infections can manifest as itching in the vagina, discomfort in the groin, burning, pain during or after sex, pain or a rotten smell. If you have such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. There are also more serious diseases that affect the reproductive system and can cause complications. These are chlamydia, ureaplasmosis and trichomoniasis.
During heavy bleeding, it is very difficult to conduct a gynecological examination, so they resort to ultrasound examination. It does not cause any harm even to a pregnant woman. Using an ultrasound, you can determine the gestational age, the presence of certain pathologies in the uterus or other diseases. This examination is most often prescribed after a routine examination by a gynecologist for the most accurate results. This is a kind of comprehensive examination with which you can determine the entire picture of the course of the disease or a successful pregnancy. Most often, such an examination is prescribed for regular brown discharge without any complaints from the woman. This allows you to determine the cause.
If there is not severe bleeding, then an examination by a gynecologist with a mirror is possible. As a rule, light discharge will not interfere with determining the presence or absence of a disease and finding out the cause of such symptoms.
The most dangerous consequence of bleeding in pregnant women is miscarriage. You should be wary of this and, first of all, be extremely careful when examined by a gynecologist. Dizziness, nausea and weakness can also signal a threat of miscarriage, even with brown ointments. If the doctor himself cannot determine the gestational age, then it is better to undergo an ultrasound for a complete picture. Other light spotting may indicate other less serious problems, but should not be ignored.
When the discharge is pathological
The pathological nature of the discharge should not be ruled out. After examination, so-called contact bleeding may appear, which indicates the course of any disease of the reproductive system.
Endometriosis can manifest itself as bloody discharge. The condition is also accompanied by regular nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Symptoms occur during menstruation and after examination. On other days, the pathology may not manifest itself in any way.
Another pathological root cause is the presence of polypous formations. Bleeding after examination will appear if the tumor has affected the cervical canal. The risk of injury during examination increases. The greatest risk of damage is when using mirrors.
The cause may be polyps or neoplasms in the uterus
The root causes include endometrial hyperplasia. The condition is characterized by thickening of the mucous membrane. Even minimal exposure ends in bleeding.
Blood occurs as a result of a miscarriage. In the early stages, pregnancy may not manifest itself in any way. Even the doctor may not notice the fertilized egg. Active actions will lead to endometrial detachment and miscarriage as a result.
Another possible cause is malignant neoplasm. For a long period of time the condition does not manifest itself in any way. A small amount of bloody mucus may be released.
Bleeding requires contacting a doctor if accompanied by pathological signs.
If you have any alarming symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor
We can talk about pathological discharge in cases where it is observed for a long time (more than 2–4 days) and is accompanied by abdominal pain or other unpleasant symptoms. In this case, of course, it is necessary to make a second visit to the doctor in order to establish the factor that provokes their occurrence.
There are several reasons why atypical discharge may appear. More often, this role is played by infections obtained during an examination, during which unsterilized instruments were used, or by inflammatory diseases that the doctor could simply overlook.
Causes of red discharge in the early stages (up to 13 weeks)
Women who have noticed spotting during early pregnancy should know that about 25% of pregnant women experience this symptom (“bleeding”), and 80% of these 25% are due to spotting in the initial stages.
This means that such manifestations are not unique, although they arise for various reasons:
- due to implantation bleeding, which occurs in approximately 20% of pregnant women 8-10 days after conception;
- due to the luteo-placental shift in the secretion of progesterone, observed when the functioning of the corpus luteum ceases (such spotting occurs at 7-9 weeks of pregnancy);
- loss of one of the embryos during a multiple pregnancy (blood discharge occurs no later than the 7th week of pregnancy);
- in the presence of fibrous nodes in the uterus, which is manifested by uterine bleeding as gestation progresses;
- at the beginning of termination of a defective pregnancy (often at 4–6 weeks).
The latter factor is more common and often causes red discharge during early pregnancy. This also includes signs of ectopic pregnancy, manifested by heavy bleeding at 5-6 weeks (less often - up to the 12th week).
Obstetricians warn that any vaginal discharge during pregnancy that contains blood, even bloody spots or “streaks,” should be regarded as potentially dangerous and should be a reason to consult a doctor.
Several hours after the examination, the patient may experience brown discharge.
The reasons for such an incident may be the following:
- Minor mechanical damage to the inner surface of the cervix caused by a gynecological speculum. Shortly before labor begins, the cervix, which by this time has softened and opened slightly, can be easily injured. With this development of events, the brown discharge will go away as suddenly as it appeared, in a maximum of a couple of days.
- If discharge was noted before the 38th week, then this may be due to sexual intercourse. During pregnancy (if everything is in order according to physiological indicators), sex is not prohibited. However, in the final stages, you need to be especially careful when choosing poses.
- To avoid unwanted consequences, it is better to limit sex or give preference to safer positions.
- Brown discharge after examination may be the result of a plug coming out - a harbinger of labor activity.
A minor spot that appears after a doctor's examination during pregnancy does not carry any danger or terrible pathology. If bleeding is observed, which may be accompanied by painful sensations in the lower abdomen, then this is an alarming signal that requires immediate assistance from a specialist.
The plug can come off either after inspection by a specialist or without it. During the entire period of pregnancy, the cervix is tightly closed. There is a thick mucus plug in the cervical canal. If the neck is ripe, the plug should come off. This usually happens a few days, and sometimes a few hours before the onset of labor. But there are often cases when it goes away at the moment of the onset of labor, then you may not even notice it.
A plug looks like a clump of mucus, which can be of different colors: white, cream, pink, brown, with or without blood streaks. Its volume is approximately 60 grams (1-2 tablespoons). If a woman is not aware of this phenomenon, then the process of the cork coming out may frighten her.
The mucus plug comes off differently in all women. In addition, it can come out all at once, or maybe in parts.
Every pregnant woman needs to clearly understand that the appearance of brown discharge along with a plug in the third trimester during pregnancy several times increases the likelihood of getting an infection inside. Therefore, you should take care of yourself, do not swim in rivers, lakes, and do not travel or do housework.
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