Threatened abortion is characterized by what?

• A. Bleeding in the first half of pregnancy without dilation.
• B. Passage of tissue with dilation.
• C. Bleeding in the third trimester with dilation.
• D. No bleeding with contractions.

Answer: (A)

Threatened abortion is defined by vaginal bleeding early in pregnancy while the cervix remains closed and no tissue has passed. This situation suggests a possible miscarriage, but the pregnancy may still continue if bleeding stops and the fetus remains viable.

That’s why the description of bleeding in the first half of pregnancy with no dilation best fits. It differentiates from other scenarios: bleeding later in pregnancy with cervical dilation or tissue passage would indicate abortion in progress or completion, and no bleeding with contractions isn’t compatible with an abortion at all.