Black Vaginal Bleeding at 6 Weeks Pregnant, Unclear Gestational Sac—Is There Any Impact?

Question
Dear Doctor,
7 months ago, I had a history of fetal loss. After that, my menstrual cycle returned to normal. My cycle is 30 days, and it ends after 4 days. On December 18, I had a period, and then on January 17, my period was due but was late until January 25. I used a pregnancy test strip and saw one faint line and one unclear line. I went for an ultrasound, and no gestational sac was seen. On February 1, I had another ultrasound, and the doctor said there was a gestational sac, but it was still unclear, so I should keep monitoring. The doctor calculated my pregnancy at 6 weeks, but the gestational sac is still unclear, and I am discharging a little bit of black blood. I told the doctor performing the ultrasound about it, but the doctor did not say anything. May I ask if black bleeding at 6 weeks pregnant with an unclear gestational sac is harmful or not? What is the reason for this black bleeding? Thank you.
Anonymous Customer

Answer
Dear Madam,
Regarding the question: “Black vaginal bleeding at 6 weeks pregnant with an unclear gestational sac—Is there any impact?”, I would like to answer as follows:
Vaginal discharge is a common occurrence during pregnancy, affecting about 25% of pregnant women in the first 12 weeks. Brown discharge during pregnancy can appear when increased blood flow to the uterus is concentrated in the cervix, making the vaginal area more sensitive. Additionally, brown vaginal discharge could indicate implantation bleeding, a threatened miscarriage, fetal demise, or vaginal infections, among other conditions.
Based on your last menstrual period, on January 2, your gestational age is estimated to be around 6 weeks when you had the ultrasound. At that time, the ultrasound may still show the gestational sac unclearly. You should continue to monitor as the doctor advised and have another checkup or ultrasound after 10 days to evaluate the pregnancy’s development.
If you still have concerns about black (brown) vaginal bleeding at 6 weeks pregnant with an unclear gestational sac, you may visit a hospital in the Vinmec Health System for further checkups and consultation. Thank you for trusting and sending your question to Vinmec. Wishing you abundant health.
Sincerely!

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Answered by Master’s Degree, MD Nguyễn Như Thu Trúc – Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Nha Trang International Hospital.