Certified Obstetric Emergencies (C-OBE) Practice Exam

Tranexamic acid is classified as an antifibrinolytic agent. In postpartum hemorrhage, it helps stabilize formed clots by preventing their breakdown. It works by blocking plasminogen activation and plasmin activity, which slows fibrinolysis and allows clots to persist longer, reducing bleeding. This drug is used early in management to cut down on mortality from hemorrhage when given promptly after birth. It is not a vasopressor (which would raise blood pressure by constricting vessels), not an anticoagulant (which would hinder clot formation), and not a prostaglandin analogue (which stimulates uterine contraction).