Chadwick's Sign: Diagnosis, Indications, Other Causes – Verywell Health

Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.
Chadwick’s sign is one of several physical changes that occur during pregnancy. It is an early sign that a person is probably pregnant. It appears as a dark bluish or purplish discoloration of the vaginal tissue, vulva, or cervix, which is caused by an increase in venous (from the veins) blood flow to the area.
Chadwick's sign (also referred to as Jacquemier’s sign when the vaginal tissue appears bluish in color) is one of several changes that can indicate you are likely pregnant. It is observed between six to eight weeks after conception.
Other early signs of pregnancy include Goodell’s sign (a softening of the cervix at around six to eight weeks of gestation) and Hegar’s sign (softening of the lower segment of the uterus, which occurs around six to 12 weeks of gestation).
These changes are considered probable signs of pregnancy, but they do not definitively indicate a person is pregnant.
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Chadwick's sign is not a definitive indicator that a person is pregnant. Tests will need to be done to confirm a pregnancy, often starting with an at-home pregnancy test.
A healthcare provider can then use several methods to confirm a pregnancy. Common ways to diagnose pregnancy include:
A healthcare provider may use all of these diagnostic tools to diagnose pregnancy or rule out other causes of a person's symptoms.
If a pregnancy is not confirmed, other causes will need to be evaluated. Some medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of pregnancy, including Chadwick’s sign.
There are other conditions that can cause bluish discoloration of the cervix:
There are several categories to describe signs of pregnancy, including presumptive, probable, and positive signs.
Presumptive signs are those that raise some suspicion that a person might be pregnant. These signs are subjective, meaning they are reported by the patient.
Presumptive signs of pregnancy could have other causes, which is why additional diagnostic signs must be present before a positive diagnosis can be made.
Probable signs of pregnancy are those that are strongly linked with pregnancy but can also be symptoms of other underlying conditions. Probable signs of pregnancy include:
There are also other signs that indicate pregnancy is likely but not certain. These signs may seem like positive signs of pregnancy but can also be brought on by other causes.
These signs include:
Positive signs of pregnancy are those that have no other underlying cause. Signs that are considered definitive of pregnancy include:
Chadwick's sign is not usually the first indicator of pregnancy, but it can appear early on and might prompt you to confirm that you are pregnant.
If you notice the discoloration in your vaginal area or have any signs you think could be those of pregnancy, make an appointment with your doctor to have the diagnosis confirmed.
If you notice any changes to your cervix, vagina, or vulva—even if you do not have any other pregnancy symptoms—let your healthcare provider know. There are other causes of the discoloration they will want to assess you for.
Chadwick's sign is a bluish-purple discoloration of the cervix that can occur in early pregnancy. While it can be a sign of pregnancy, it does not definitively mean that someone is pregnant. There are also other conditions that can cause the change, such as cervical endometriosis.
If you experience cervical discoloration, your doctor can use other diagnostic methods to confirm that you are pregnant or find out what underlying condition is causing the changes if you are not pregnant.
Chadwick’s sign is an expected physical change related to pregnancy. However, if you feel self-conscious about it (especially during sexual activity), talk about it with your partner. Explaining why it occurs will help you both feel more comfortable and encourage an open conversation about all the changes your body will go through during pregnancy.
Chadwick's sign—the bluish discoloration of the vagina, vulva, and cervix—occurs when there is an increase in blood flow to the area triggered by an increase in hormone levels (such as estrogen).
The sign occurs because there is blood congestion in the veins. This happens because there is an increase in base estrogen levels during pregnancy.
Chadwick's sign usually shows up about six weeks after conception. It typically subsides during the pregnancy or soon after delivery.
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