aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Possible causes of antepartum haemorrhage include:

• placental abruption 15%
• placenta praevia 10%
• rarely caused by vasa praevia

Other causes include:

• incidental haemorrhage from a lesion of the cervix or vagina - infection, carcinoma, polyp, ectropion
• show - expulsion of the mucus plug at the onset of labour Other causes to consider include:
• rectal bleeding; bleeding diatheses; haematuria