Passing any fleshy tissue while pregnant signals a need for immediate medical consultation regardless of the appearance or amount of tissue expelled. This event, often accompanied by bleeding or cramping, requires professional evaluation to determine the cause and ensure the safety of the pregnant person and the pregnancy. Understanding the potential sources of this tissue, from less harmful hormonal changes to serious complications, is the first step toward seeking appropriate care.
Distinguishing the Source of Expelled Tissue
The sensation of passing tissue “when you pee” is common, but the material almost always originates from the reproductive tract, not the urinary tract. The urethra and the vagina are located in very close proximity. Tissue leaving the vagina often exits simultaneously with urination, or is simply noticed when wiping after using the toilet, creating the impression that it came from the bladder.
The primary sources for fleshy tissue are the uterus and the cervix, with the material passing through the vaginal canal. While a severe urinary tract infection can rarely cause tissue sloughing, the vast majority of fleshy material passed during pregnancy is reproductive in origin.
Benign Tissue Causes During Pregnancy
Some instances of passing fleshy material stem from benign, non-fetal causes related to the body’s reaction to pregnancy hormones. One such phenomenon is the shedding of a decidual cast, the thickened lining of the uterus. This lining develops to prepare the uterus for implantation, and hormonal fluctuations can cause it to shed in one large piece, often described as pink or fleshy and resembling the shape of the uterine cavity.
Cervical polyps are another potential source of fleshy material, appearing as small, typically non-cancerous growths on the cervix. These polyps are fragile and can bleed or fragment easily due to the increased blood flow and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. A piece of a polyp may be expelled, often causing light spotting or bleeding.
In the later stages of pregnancy, the passing of the mucus plug can also be mistaken for fleshy tissue. This thick, jelly-like mass seals the cervix to protect the uterus from bacteria and infection. The plug can be clear, white, or tinged with pink, brown, or red blood (known as “show”), and its partial or full passage is a normal sign that the cervix is beginning to soften in preparation for labor.
When Tissue Signals Serious Complications
The passage of tissue may also signal serious complications involving the pregnancy itself. Passing products of conception is a primary sign of a threatened or active miscarriage. This tissue can appear grey, white, or distinctly structured, sometimes mixed with large blood clots or a fluid-filled sac, especially after the eighth week of gestation.
Tissue passage combined with severe pain or heavy bleeding requires immediate attention, as it may indicate an ectopic pregnancy complication. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. The resulting hormonal disruption can cause the uterus to shed the decidual lining, or decidual cast.
Later in pregnancy, significant bleeding with large clots or tissue may point to serious placental issues, such as placenta previa or placental abruption. Placenta previa involves the placenta covering the cervix, and placental abruption occurs when the placenta prematurely separates from the uterine wall. Both conditions can cause heavy, bright red vaginal bleeding and require emergency medical care to protect the pregnant person and the fetus.
Immediate Steps and Medical Evaluation
Anyone who passes fleshy tissue while pregnant must contact a healthcare provider immediately or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding—soaking two pads in an hour—severe abdominal or pelvic pain, or symptoms like dizziness or fainting, you should seek emergency care immediately. These symptoms suggest a potentially life-threatening situation requiring rapid intervention.
If possible, it is incredibly helpful to save the expelled tissue for medical examination, as visual inspection is a crucial part of the diagnostic process. Place the tissue in a clean, sealed container, such as a zip-top bag, and bring it with you to the medical facility. This specimen allows doctors to analyze whether the material is placental, fetal, or simply uterine lining.
When speaking with the medical team, be prepared to report specific details regarding the incident, including:
- The amount of associated bleeding.
- The color and texture of the tissue.
- The level and location of any pain.
- Your current gestational week.
The doctor will typically perform a physical examination, often followed by an ultrasound to assess the status of the pregnancy, the location of the fetus, and the condition of the uterus. Blood tests to check human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone levels may also be used to help confirm the viability of the pregnancy.