Post-Intercourse Spotting in Pregnancy: What to Know

Question
Hi, I'm 19 and about 26 and a half weeks and i'm worried about this spotting that has occurred. My boyfriend and i had intercourse this morning and i went to go use the bathroom afterwords. When i was done urinating, i noticed some red tissue in the bottom of the toilet. it wasn't very large, just like little tiny bits of tissue along with a very faint pink blood. I've had a little bit of spotting before after intercourse earlier in my pregnancy and the doc said it wasn't much to worry about, but i'm concerned this time because of the whole tissue issue. Could this be anything really serious?

Answer
Dear Jackie

This can be a case of placenta previa which means that the placenta is in abnorml site which is mostly in the lower part of your uterus. Normally it is high up in the uterus. When this case is diagnosed at your stage of pregnancy, 26 weeks, many cases improve spontaneously and the placenta moves up with the growth of the uterus as you approach term. In severe degrees, placenta may remains low in the uterus.

Therefore, the first thing to do is to avoid any household activities, intercourse and similar activities. The second is to seek an abdominal ultrasound examination to exactly locate your placenta. Further management would depend on the sonographic findings.

Best of Luck.