What clinical feature suggests a diagnosis of placenta previa?

Prepare for the Reproductive Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to confidently approach your exam.

The diagnosis of placenta previa is suggested primarily by the presence of bright red painless vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. This bleeding occurs because the placenta is located low in the uterus and may cover part or all of the cervix. When this happens, the placenta can separate from the uterine wall as the cervix begins to efface and dilate, leading to bleeding.

In contrast, other clinical features listed do not typically indicate placenta previa. Severe pain in the lower back can be associated with various conditions during pregnancy but is not specific to placenta previa, which primarily presents with bleeding rather than pain. Contractions occurring every 5 minutes suggest the onset of labor or preterm labor rather than placenta previa. Abdominal enlargement with hypertension could indicate a range of conditions, including preeclampsia, but again, it is not characteristic of placenta previa. Therefore, the hallmark symptom remains the painless vaginal bleeding that distinguishes placenta previa in clinical practice.

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