Placenta Previa
Placenta previa means the placenta is low in the womb and partly or completely covers the opening of the cervix.
When to get help quickly: Any bleeding in later pregnancy should be treated urgently. A pregnant woman with bleeding, dizziness, weakness, or contractions should go to the hospital quickly.
Common symptoms
The most common symptom is painless vaginal bleeding in later pregnancy, though some women are diagnosed on routine scan before any bleeding happens.
When imaging helps
Ultrasound helps show where the placenta is lying and whether it is still covering or close to the cervix as the pregnancy grows.
What radiology does
Ultrasound is the main way to diagnose and follow placenta previa and helps maternity teams plan delivery safely.
What usually happens next
Management depends on the bleeding, the stage of pregnancy, and the placenta position, and may include close monitoring, hospital admission, and planning for delivery by caesarean section.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.