North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What is an early pregnancy emergency characterized by vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain?

1. Ectopic pregnancy

2. Placenta previa

3. Miscarriage

4. Gestational diabetes

The correct answer is: Miscarriage

The correct answer identifies a miscarriage as an early pregnancy emergency. A miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, commonly occurs in the first trimester and is often characterized by symptoms such as vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. In many cases, these symptoms result from the body naturally expelling the pregnancy tissue when it is not viable. During a miscarriage, the body goes through physical changes, leading to noticeable symptoms that require medical attention. While vaginal bleeding can occur in other conditions, the specific combination of bleeding and cramping or abdominal pain in early pregnancy strongly indicates a miscarriage. In contrast, ectopic pregnancy refers to a situation where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, often leading to more severe pain on one side of the abdomen along with potential rupture, which may not always present with typical miscarriage bleeding. Placenta previa involves the placenta covering the cervix and typically presents later in pregnancy with bright red bleeding rather than the cramping associated with miscarriages. Gestational diabetes is a metabolic condition occurring in the second or third trimester and does not directly relate to reports of bleeding or abdominal pain.