What Causes Vaginal Spotting And Cramps?

Posted on Tue, 5 Aug 2014

Question: hi there, i had a faint positive pregancy test on july 5 (lmp XXXXXXX 10, only sex 6/19) went to gyno yesterday due to spotting and cramps and she found nothing with transvaginal US, was convinced i was about to have period and sent me for hcg. hcg came back 3500 and had more cramps with darker spotting today. Not TTC so open to any news.

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please repeat the sonogram and blood test.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for posting your query.

If you have regular 28-30 day cycles, your ovulation falls on day 14-16 of the cycle and the few days around this period are considered the fertile days where the chances of conception are high.

Your chances of pregnancy are not very high as you were in the safe period at the time of the intercourse, if you have a 28-30 day cycle. Shorter cycles make risk higher.

In the current scenario, you should repeat the sonogram in the trans-vaginal route after a week. This should be coupled by serial serum beta-hCG titres as a healthy pregnancy shows doubling titres every 2-3 days. A fall in the titres indicates a missed pregnancy.

If pregnancy can be excluded, it is a hormonal imbalance that needs to be corrected. If it is a pregnancy, care should be taken to arrest the bleeding using styptics and hormones and bed rest should be given until the symptoms subside. Please see a specialist for further management.

Hope I have answered your query. Please feel free to contact for further clarifications. I will be happy to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shanti Vennam (30 minutes later)

My cycles are usually 23 days. I had ruled out pregnancy as coitus not completed, but hcg levels would indicate otherwise. have another blood test in 2 days, but don't want to wait too long to resolve.

Answered by Dr. Shanti Vennam (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Pregnancy is a possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for writing back.

Since you have 23-day cycles, you are likely to ovulate on day 9. This means that you had the intercourse during your fertile period and hence, your chances of pregnancy are high. High hCG levels in the absence of a gestation sac may be seen when hCG injections are being taken as part of treatment for infertility, or when there is a molar pregnancy.

Even if intercourse is not complete, pre-ejaculate contains enough sperm to fertilize an ovum. Please repeat the blood test and the sonogram for a definite conclusion and to plan further management.

Hope I have clarified your doubt. Please get back if you need more information. I will be ready to help.

regards,
Shanti.V.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar