What is a likely cause of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding in a non-pregnant female?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, known as endometrial tissue, grows outside the uterus. This can lead to various symptoms including significant abdominal pain and can also cause abnormal bleeding, including vaginal bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle.

In non-pregnant females, endometriosis is a plausible explanation for both symptoms being presented—abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding—because the endometrial-like tissue can cause inflammation, scarring, and other disruptions within the pelvic cavity.

While other conditions, such as spontaneous abortion, placenta abruptio, and placenta previa, involve pregnancy-related factors and are therefore not applicable in a non-pregnant patient, endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder that is relevant when considering these symptoms in a woman who is not expecting. Understanding the context of endometriosis can help EMTs and other first responders to effectively assess and support patients presenting with similar symptoms.