Little bleeding in early pregnancy

Light bleeding can happen when the cervix is sensitive, including after sex or an examination. It can also occur with changes inside the uterus and does not, by itself, show whether a pregnancy is progressing normally.

Bleeding with one-sided lower abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, or faintness can be a warning sign of ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy develops outside the womb. This requires urgent assessment.

Contact your maternity team or clinician and describe the colour, amount, timing, and whether tissue or clots are present. Tell them about cramps, pain, dizziness, fever, or recent sex or examination. Follow the advised plan for examination, ultrasound, or blood tests; do not self-diagnose from the amount of bleeding.

Seek emergency care for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, faintness, dizziness, or feeling very unwell. Do this immediately if you know or suspect you are pregnant, because ectopic pregnancy can become dangerous without prompt treatment.

Ask whether you need an examination or ultrasound, which symptoms require emergency care, and how to monitor bleeding at home. Ask what follow-up is needed if the bleeding stops but the cause remains uncertain.