What should you know about red blood spotting during pregnancy?

The cervix can become more sensitive during pregnancy, so light spotting may follow sex or an examination. Infection, including [Chlamydia](/conditions/chlamydia/), can also cause bleeding and may come with discharge, pelvic discomfort, or pain when passing urine. Bleeding can sometimes occur for reasons related to the pregnancy, and the possibilities differ in early and later pregnancy.

Conditions such as [Cervical Dysplasia](/conditions/cervical-dysplasia/) may cause bleeding from the cervix, while [Cervical Cancer](/conditions/cervical-cancer/) and womb conditions are less common explanations. These conditions are not diagnosed from spotting alone. Pregnancy makes prompt clinical assessment especially important because a clinician may need to check you and the pregnancy together.

Contact your maternity team, obstetric clinician, or urgent medical service and describe when the spotting began, whether it is bright red or brown, how much there is, and whether it followed sex or an examination. Mention your stage of pregnancy, blood group if known, pain, dizziness, fever, fluid leakage, and fetal movement when relevant.

Use a pad rather than inserting anything into the vagina so you can observe the amount. Avoid sex until you have received advice, and do not take medicines or use treatments for bleeding without checking that they are suitable in pregnancy. Keep your antenatal appointments and bring any pregnancy records if you attend urgent care.

Seek emergency help for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, faintness, collapse, marked dizziness, fever, or feeling very unwell. Contact maternity services urgently for fluid leakage, regular tightening, or reduced fetal movement later in pregnancy. Do not wait for spotting to stop before asking for advice, particularly when pain or weakness is present.

Ask what examination or scan is appropriate at your stage of pregnancy, whether infection testing is needed, and which symptoms should send you straight to emergency care. Ask whether you should pause sex or any medicine and how follow-up will be arranged.