Osiander's sign

System: Pregnancy & Women's Health Signs · All pregnancy & women's health signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

A strong pulsation can be felt through the side wall (lateral fornix) of the vagina on examination in early pregnancy, from increased blood flow.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with early pregnancy; one of the older, less-used presumptive signs.

◈ Behind the name

Friedrich Benjamin Osiander (1759–1822), German obstetrician.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.