First Trimester
Bleeding and Abortion
UNC School of Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship
Case Based Seminar Series
Gretchen S. Stuart, MD, MPHTM
Amy G. Bryant, MD
Jennifer H. Tang, MD
Family Planning Program, Dept Ob/Gyn, UNC-Chapel Hill
Objectives
 Develop a differential for first trimester vaginal bleeding
 Differentiate the types of spontaneous abortion (missed,
complete, incomplete, threatened, septic)
 Describe the causes of spontaneous abortion
 List the complications of spontaneous abortion
 Provide non-directive counseling to patients surrounding
pregnancy options
 Explain surgical and non-surgical methods of pregnancy
termination
 Identify potential complications of induced abortion
 Understand the public health impact of the legal status of
abortion
Most Common Differential Diagnosis of
1st Trimester Bleeding
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Ectopic pregnancy
Normal intrauterine pregnancy
Threatened abortion
Abnormal intrauterine pregnancy
 Language is important
 Abortion: termination or expulsion of a pregnancy,
whether spontaneous or induced, prior to viability.
Diagnosis tools for early pregnancy
UPT and beta-hCG
 Urine pregnancy test (UPT)
 Accurate on first day of expected menses
 βhCG
 6-8 days after ovulation – present
 Date of expected menses (@14 days after ovulation) –
βhCG is100 IU/L
 Within first 30 days – βhCG doubles in 48-72 hours
 Important for pregnancy diagnosis prior to
ultrasound diagnosis
Diagnosis tools for early pregnancy
transvaginal ultrasound
EGA
βhCG (IU/L)
Visualization
5 wks
>1500
Gestational sac
6 wks
>5,200
Fetal pole
7 wks
>17,500
Cardiac motion
Diagnosis of SAB/EPF
using ultrasound and beta-hCG
 If ultrasound measurements are:
 5mm CRL and no FHR
 10mm Mean Sac Diameter and no yolk sac
 20mm Mean Sac Diameter and no fetal pole
 If change in beta-hCG is
 <15% rise in bhcg over 48 hours
 Gestational sac growth <2mm over 5 days
 Gestational sac growth <3mm over 7 day
Diagnosis of threatened abortion
 Diagnosis made by ultrasound and/or ß-hCG – normally growing
early pregnancy but with vaginal bleeding
 More formal definition:
 Vaginal bleeding before the 20th week
 Bleeding in early pregnancy with no pregnancy loss
 Outcomes
 25-50% will progress to spontaneous abortion
 However – if the pregnancy is far enough along that an ultrasound can
confirm a live pregnancy then 94% will go on to deliver a live baby
 Management
 Reassurance
 Pelvic rest has not been shown to improve outcome
Spontaneous Abortion (SAB)
Early Pregnancy Failure (EPF)
 SAB (spontaneous abortion):
 Usually refers to first 20 weeks
 Abortion in the absence of an intervention
 If fetus dies in uterus after 20wks GA
 (fetal demise) or stillbirth
Types of SAB/EPF
 Complete
 Incomplete : cervix open, some tissue has passed
 Inevitable: intrauterine pregnancy with cervical dilation & vaginal
bleeding.
 Chemical pregnancy: +hcg but no sac formed.
 Missed: embryo never formed or demised, but uterus hasn’t
expelled the sac
 Blighted ovum/anembryonic pregnancy: empty gestational sac,
embryo never formed
 Septic: missed/incomplete abortion becomes infected
SAB/EPF
Epidemiology and etiology
 Epidemiology
 15-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies
 Offer reassurance: probability of 2 consecutive
miscarriages is 2.25%
 85% of women will conceive and have normal third
pregnancy if with same partner
 80% in the first 12 weeks
 Etiologies
 Chromosomal
 Non-chromosomal
SAB/EPF: Chromosomal Etiologies
 50% due to chromosomal abnormalities
 50% trisomies
 50% triploidy, tetraploidy, X0
50% Non-Chromosomal Etiologies
 Maternal systemic disease
 Infectious factors:
 Mycoplasma
 Listeria
 Toxoplasmosis
 Endocrine factors:
 DM, hypothyroidism, “luteal phase defect” from
progesterone deficiency
50% Non-Chromosomal Etiologies
 Abnormal placentation
 Anatomic considerations (fibroids, septum, bicornuate,
incompetent cervix)
 Environmental factors
 Smoking >20 cigarettes per day (increased 4X)
 Alcohol >7 drinks/week (increased 4X)
 Increasing age
Surgical and non-surgical management of
spontaneous abortion
1.
Uterine evacuation by suction
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Manual
Electric
2. Uterine evacuation by medication
Surgical management SAB/EPF
Manual vacuum aspiration
 Ensures POCs are fully evacuated.
 Minimal anesthesia needed.
 Comfortable for women due to low noise level.
 Portable for use in physician office familiar to the
woman.
 Women very satisfied with method.
MVA Label. Ipas. 2007.
Surgical management SAB/EPF
Electric Vacuum Aspirator
Electric vacuum aspirator
 Uses an electric pump or suction
machine connected via flexible
tubing
Creinin MD, et al. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2001.; Goldberg AB, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2004.; Hemlin J, et al. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.
2001.
Pain Management
 Aspiration/vacuum
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Preparation
Music
Support during procedure
Conscious sedation
Paracervical block
 Medication abortion
 NSAIDS
 Oral narcotics and antiemetics
if necessary
Floating Chorionic Villi
Tissue examination
 Basin for POC
 Fine-mesh kitchen strainer
 Glass pyrex pie dish
 Back light or enhanced light
 Tools to grasp tissue and POC
 Specimen containers
Source: A Clinicians Guide to Medical and Surgical Abortion; Paul M, Grimes D, National Abortion Federation, available online Hyman
AG, Castleman L. Ipas. 2005
Comparison of surgical management
EVA
MVA
Vacuum
Electric pump
Manual aspirator
Noise
Variable
Quiet
Portable
Not easily
Yes
Anesthesia
Conscious sedation and paracervical block
Capacity
350–1,200 cc
60 cc
Assistant
Not necessary
Helpful
Dean G, et al. Contraception. 2003.
EVA and MVA risks
and preventing the risks
Complication
Uterine perforation
Hemorrhage
Retained products
Infection
Post-abortal
hematometra
Rate/1000
procedures
1
<12 wks – 0
3
Prevention
Cervical preparation
Intra-Op Ultrasound
Efficient completion of procedure
Ultrasound
Gritty texture
Examine POC
2.5
Prophylactic antibiotics
PO doxy or IV cephalosporin
1.8
N/a – unpredictable
Immediate re-aspiration required
Medication management
of SAB/EPF
 Misoprostol
 Synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog
 Inexpensive
 Orally active
 Multiple effective routes of administration
 Can be stored safely at room temperature
 Effective at initiating uterine contractions
 Effective at inducing cervical ripening
Regimen
Misoprostol 800 μg vaginally
Repeat dose on day 2 or 3 if indicated
Pelvic U/S to confirm empty uterus
Consider vacuum aspiration if expulsion
incomplete
Zhang J, et al. N Engl J Med. 2005.
Creinin MD, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2006.
Efficacy: Medication vs. Expectant
Management
Misoprostol
600 μg
vaginally
Expectant
management
(placebo)
Success by day 2
73.1%
13.5%
Success by day 7
88.5%
44.2%
Evacuation
needed
11.5%
55.8%
Bagratee JS, et al. Hum Reprod. 2004.
Induced Abortion/Pregnancy Termination
Language:
Indications
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 Personal choice
 Medical indication
(hemorrhage, infection)
 Medical recommendation
(SLE, Pulmonary HTN, PPROM)
 Fetus diagnosed with
anomalies
Termination
Abortion
Elective abortion
Therapeutic abortion
Interruption of pregnancy
Definition
 The removal of a fetus or
embryo from the uterus before
the stage of viability
Methods
 Dependent upon gestational
age and provider abilities
Induced Abortion History
 Any discussion of abortion needs to include some of the legal and
political aspects.
 Providers should be familiar with the abortion laws in their own
states
 Providers performing abortions must know the laws in their own
state
 1821 – first abortion law enacted in Connecticut
 Following that “therapeutic abortion” allowable, definitions vague
 1973 – Roe v. Wade
 Woman’s constitutional right of privacy
 The government cannot prohibit or interfere with abortion without a
“compelling” reason;
 1976 – Hyde Amendment
 Forbids use of federal money to pay for almost any abortion under Medicaid
 Some states have reinstated state funding (NY, VT, CA among others)
Induced Abortion History
 1821 – first abortion law enacted in Connecticut
 Following that “therapeutic abortion” allowable, definitions vague
 1973 – Roe v. Wade
 Woman’s constitutional right of privacy
 The government cannot prohibit or interfere with abortion without a
“compelling” reason;
 1976 – Hyde Amendment
 Forbids use of federal money to pay for almost any abortion under Medicaid
 Some states have reinstated state funding (NY, VT, CA among others)
Induced Abortion
epidemiology
 1 in 3 women by the age of 44 yrs
 1/3 occur in women older than 24
 Gestational age:
 90% within first 12 weeks
 50% within first 8 weeks
 Complications
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Dependent upon gestational age
7-10 weeks have lowest complication rates
mortality: 1/100,000
Complications are 3-4x higher for second-trimester than first
trimester
Putting Induced Abortion
into Perspective…
Incident
Terminating pregnancy < 9 weeks
Chance of death
1 in 500,000
Terminating pregnancy > 20 weeks
1 in 8,000
Giving birth
1 in 7,600
Driving an automobile
1 in 5,900
Using a tampon
1 in 350,000
Gold RB, Richards C. Issues Sci Technol. 1990.; Hatcher RA. Contracept Technol Update. 1998.; Mokdad AH, et al. MMWR Recomm
Rep. 2003.
Earlier Procedures are Safer
Abortions at < 8 weeks = lowest risk of death
1
Gestational Age
Strongest risk factor
for abortion-related
mortality
Weeks Gestation
4
≤8
6
9 to 10
10
61%
18
11 to 12
≤8 weeks
13 to 15
16 to 20
≥21
Bartlet L, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2004.
Induced Abortion
methods
 Methods:
 Uterine evacuation (basically the same as treatment of
abortion however the cervix is closed)
 Manual vacuum aspiration
 Electric vacuum aspiration
 Medication
 Mifepristone and misoprostol
Medical abortion
methods
 Mifepristone
 19-norsteroid that specifically blocks
the receptors for progesterone and
glucocorticosteroids
 Antagonizing effect blocks the
relaxation effects of progesterone
 Results in uterine contractions
 Pregnancy disruption
 Dilation and softening of the
cervix
 Increases the sensitivity of the
uterus to prostaglandin analogs by
an approximate factor of five
 Takes 24-48 hours for this to occur
 Misoprostol
 Synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog
 Inexpensive
 Orally active
 Multiple effective routes of
administration
 Can be stored safely at room
temperature
 Effective at initiating uterine
contractions
 Effective at inducing cervical ripening
 Used in decreasing doses as
pregnancy advances
Medical abortion protocols
1. Mifepristone 200-600 mg p.o. administered in clinic
2. Misoprostol 400-800 mcg orally or buccally 24-48h later.
3. Evaluate with U/S 13-16d later to confirm completion.
Complete abortion rate
(%)
Time to expulsion
(after misoprostol)
91–97
49%–61%
within 4 hours
< 56
83–95
87%–88%
within 24 hours
< 63
88
Gestational age
(days)
< 49
WHO Task Force. BJOG. 2000.; Peyron R, et al. N Engl J Med. 1993.
Spitz IM, et al. N Engl J Med. 1998; Winikoff B, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997.
2nd Trimester Induced Abortion
epidemiology
 Epidemiology
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@ 34% of all induced abortions
14 weeks and above
96% - dilation and evacuation
4% labor induced abortion
2nd Trimester Induced Abortion
etiology
 Etiology
 Social indications
 Delay in diagnosis
 Delay in finding a provider
 Delay in obtaining funding
 Teenagers most likely to delay
 Fetal anomalies
 Genetic such as Trisomy 13, 18, 21
 Anatomic such as cardiac defects
 Neural tube such as anencephaly
2nd Trimester Induced Abortion
counseling
 Discuss pain management
 Informed Consent
 Discuss contraception – even those with abnormal or
wanted pregnancy may not want to follow immediately with
another pregnancy
 Ovulation can occur 14-21 days after a second trimester
abortion; risk of pregnancy is great and must be addressed
 Lactation can occur between days 3-7 postabortion
 Procedure
 Follow up
Nyoboe et al 1990
2nd trimester induced abortion
management
Dilation and evacuation
Labor induction abortion
Two visits in 1-2 days
Requires inpatient hospital stay
usually lasting 1-3 days
Anesthesia/analgesia required
Average time to delivery 13 hrs
Procedure room required
Increased likelihood of retained
placenta resulting in uterine
evacuation compared to D&E
Skilled surgeon
Medication used misoprostol
and/or mifepristone
Laminaria placement required before
procedure
D&E risks and prevention
Complication
Uterine perforation
Hemorrhage
Retained products
Infection
Post-abortal
hematometra
Rate/1000
procedures
1
13-15 wks: 12
17-25 wks: 21
Prevention
Cervical preparation
Intra-Op Ultrasound
Adequate anesthesia
Paracervical block which includes vasopressin 4 units.
Efficient completion of procedure
5-20
Ultrasound, Gritty texture
Examine POC
2.5
Prophylactic antibiotics
PO doxy or IV cephalosporin
1.8
n/a – unpredictable
Immediate re-aspiration required
Requirements for a safe D&E Program
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Surgeons skilled and experienced in D&E provision
Adequate pain control options with appropriate monitoring
Requisite instruments available
Staff skilled in patient education, counseling, care and
recovery
 Established procedures at free standing facilities for
transferring patients who require emergency hospital-based
care
D&E Step 1
cervical Preparation
 Laminaria
 Osmotic dilators
 Dried compressed seaweed sticks,
5-10mm diameter in size
 4-19 dilators can be placed
 Slow swelling to exert slow
circumferential pressure and dilation
 1-2 days prior to procedure
 Paracervical block with 20cc 0.25%
bupivicaine
D&E
Procedure
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Adequate anesthesia
Ultrasound guidance
Uterine evacuation using suction and instruments
Paracervical block with 20cc 0.5% lidocaine and 4u
vasopressin to decrease blood loss
Labor Induction Abortion
 One office visit – then hospital admission.
 Hypertonic saline amnioinfusion, intracardiac KCl,
intra-amniotic digoxin to induce fetal death
 Misoprostol or misoprostol and mifepristone to cause
contractions and uterine evacuation
 20% may require vacuum aspiration for retained
placenta
Labor Induction Abortion
 Patient is awake
 Can obtain analgesia for pain
 Fetus delivered intact
 Often only option for obese women.
Bottom Line Concepts
 First trimester bleeding occurs in 25% of all pregnancies and 25-50%
will progress to a spontaneous abortion
 Etiologies of first trimester bleeding include normal pregnancy,
spontaneous abortion/early pregnancy failure, or ectopic pregnancy.
 Diagnosis of normal vs abnormal early pregnancy made using physical
exam and ultrasound and/or ßhCG
 50% of spontaneous abortions are the result of genetic abnormalities
 Management of spontaneous abortion can be medical or surgical and
surgical options can be in the operating room or in the clinic
 1/3 women will have an induced abortion
 Induced abortion before 8 weeks is safest
 Risks associated with induced abortion are less than childbirth or
driving a car
 Methods for induced abortion include medication or surgical
Case No. 1
 24yo woman presents to your office and reports
spotting dark blood for 4 days.
 What is her differential diagnosis?
 What steps will you take to make the final
diagnosis?
Case No. 1
continued
 On the ultrasound exam you note a CRL consistent with 8
weeks but no cardiac motion.
– What is the definition of abortion?
– What proportion of clinically recognized pregnancies will end in spontaneous
abortion?
– What proportions of spontaneous abortions are due to chromosomal abnormalities?
– What are some of the non-chromosomal etiologies of spontaneous abortion?
– What are the advantages of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) over electric vacuum
aspiration (EVA)?
– What are the advantages of EVA over MVA?
– What are the advantages of medication management over vacuum aspiration?
Case No. 2
A 24 year-old woman comes into your office because she is one week late for her period, she
did a home pregnancy test and it was positive. She wants an abortion. She has known
she would have an abortion should she become pregnant when she didn’t want to since
she first became sexually active.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Where would you refer her?
What proportion of induced abortions occurs before 12 weeks?
What is the chance of death if terminating a pregnancy before 9 weeks?
What is the chance of death from giving birth?
Case No. 3
A 38 year-old woman well known to you comes in because
you are her family physician. She is pregnant and was
seeing her Ob/Gyn and they have now diagnosed her
fetus with a genetic anomaly and she desires pregnancy
termination.
1. Where would you refer her?
2. What are her options?
References and Resources
 APGO Medical Student Educational Objectives, 9th edition, (2009),
Educational Topic 16 (p34-35), 34 (72-73)
 Beckman & Ling: Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6th edition, (2010),
Charles RB Beckmann, Frank W Ling, Barabara M Barzansky, William
NP Herbert, Douglas W Laube, Roger P Smith. Chapter 13 (p147-150).
 Hacker & Moore: Hacker and Moore's Essentials of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, 5th edition (2009), Neville F Hacker, Joseph C Gambone,
Calvin J Hobel. Chapter 7 (p74-78).