Nosebleeds are associated with greater risk for postpartum hemorrhage

Women with epistaxis during pregnancy are at increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage, even after controlling for cesarean delivery and excluding women with epistaxis before pregnancy.

The findings come from a study involving 1,470 pregnant women and 275 nonpregnant counterparts. About one-fifth (20.3%) of the pregnant women suffered nosebleeds, whereas only 6.2% of those not pregnant did so (P<.001). About one-tenth (10.7%) of the pregnant women with epistaxis suffered postpartum hemorrhage compared with 6.7% of the women without epistaxis (P=.02).

The authors of the study advise that clinicians obtain a careful history of epistaxis to help determine which women are at greatest risk for disordered hemostasis.