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Warning-sign checks

Vaginal bleeding: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency help if bleeding is heavy and you feel faint, collapse, become confused, or have chest pain or trouble breathing.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    If pregnancy is possible, get urgent help for bleeding with severe or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, marked dizziness, or fainting.

    These can occur with an ectopic pregnancy, when a pregnancy develops outside the uterus.

    Heavy bleeding or severe pain during pregnancy also requires urgent assessment.

    Contact a healthcare service the same day if you are pregnant and have vaginal bleeding, even if it is light.

    You should also seek prompt advice for bleeding with fever, worsening pelvic pain, or foul-smelling discharge.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Book a routine appointment if:

    • Bleeding between periods happens more than once
    • You repeatedly bleed after sex
    • Your periods become unusually heavy, long, or irregular
    • Bleeding is causing tiredness, weakness, or shortness of breath
    • You bleed after 12 months without a period
    • You are concerned about a new or unexplained change

The article also says

Postmenopausal bleeding should be checked even if it happens once or is only a small amount.

It is not usually an emergency unless it is heavy or accompanied by other urgent symptoms.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Vaginal bleeding. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.