Vaginal bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy is common and does not always mean there is a problem. However, bleeding can be a warning sign of a miscarriage.

If all the tests are normal and no cause for the bleeding has been found, then you need not worry.

An ectopic pregnancy is when the pregnancy is growing outside the womb (uterus), usually in the fallopian tube. A molar pregnancy is a much rarer condition where the placenta is abnormal. Both ectopic and molar pregnancy can cause bleeding and pain but these are much less common pregnancy problems. For further information on ectopic pregnancy and molar pregnancy see Useful organisations.

The leaflet can be downloaded as a pdf by clicking on the link below.

• Bleeding and pain in early pregnancy: information for you