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Summary
A miscarriage is an unexpected loss of pregnancy before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages happen very early in the pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
Factors that may contribute to miscarriage include
- A genetic problem with the fetus
- Problems with the uterus or cervix
- Chronic diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome
Signs of a miscarriage include vaginal spotting, abdominal pain or cramping, and fluid or tissue passing from the vagina. Bleeding can be a symptom of miscarriage, but many women also have it in early pregnancy and don't miscarry. To be sure, contact your health care provider right away if you have bleeding.
Women who miscarry early in their pregnancy usually do not need any treatment. In some cases, there is tissue left in the uterus. Doctors use a procedure called a dilatation and curettage (D&C) or medicines to remove the tissue.
Counseling may help you cope with your grief. Later, if you do decide to try again, work closely with your health care provider to lower the risks. Many women who have a miscarriage go on to have healthy babies.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Latest News
- Be Alert for PTSD After Pregnancy Loss (11/02/2016, HealthDay)
Diagnosis and Tests
- hCG Test (Pregnancy Test) (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Pregnancy Loss or Miscarriage?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
- Progesterone Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Sonohysterography
(Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology) Also in Spanish
- Thrombin Time (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Ultrasound (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Treatments and Therapies
- Dilation and Curettage (D&C) (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Also in Spanish
- Treatment After Miscarriage (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
-
What Are the Treatments for Pregnancy Loss/Miscarriage?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
-
Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk
(National Cancer Institute)
-
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
-
FAQs of Pregnancy Loss and Miscarriage
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
- Pregnancy After Miscarriage: What You Need to Know (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Specifics
- Pregnancy Complications: Bleeding and Spotting from the Vagina (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Repeated Miscarriage (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
- What Causes a Blighted Ovum? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Genetics
-
Genetics Home Reference: recurrent hydatidiform mole
(National Library of Medicine)
Statistics and Research
- PeriStats: Perinatal Statistics (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Abortion, Spontaneous
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Fetal Death
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hydatidiform Mole
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
- D and C (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- HCG blood test - quantitative (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Miscarriage (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Miscarriage - threatened (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish