Miscarriage Summary A miscarriage is the loss of pregnancy from natural causes before the 20th week of pregnancy. Most miscarriages occur very early in the pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. There are many different causes for a miscarriage. In most cases, there is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage. Factors that may contribute to miscarriage include A genetic problem with the fetus. This is the most common cause in the first trimester. Problems with the uterus or cervix. These contribute in the second trimester. Polycystic ovary syndrome Signs of a miscarriage can include vaginal spotting or bleeding, abdominal pain or cramping, and fluid or tissue passing from the vagina. Although vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of miscarriage, many women have spotting early in their pregnancy but do not miscarry. But if you are pregnant and have bleeding or spotting, contact your health care provider immediately. Women who miscarry early in their pregnancy usually do not need any treatment. In some cases, you may need a procedure called a dilatation and curettage (D&C) to remove tissue remaining in the uterus. 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 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Related Issues Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk National Cancer Institute Diethylstilbestrol (DES) and Cancer National Cancer Institute 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 Encyclopedia Choriocarcinoma D and C – slideshow Gestational trophoblastic disease Hydatidiform mole Serum progesterone Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Abortion, Spontaneous National Institutes of Health 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 Find an Expert Compassionate Friends Compassionate Friends March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Latest News Couples’ Pre-Pregnancy Caffeine Consumption Linked to Miscarriage Risk National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Caffeine Intake — Even Dad’s — Linked to Miscarriage, Study Says HealthDay Drug for Yeast Infections May Raise Miscarriage Risk, FDA Warns HealthDay Array D and C HCG blood test – quantitative Miscarriage Miscarriage – threatened Start Here Dealing with Your Grief March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Early Pregnancy Loss American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Miscarriage March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Miscarriages Nemours Foundation Pregnancy Loss Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Pregnancy Loss and Miscarriage National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Pregnancy Loss: How to Cope Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Stillbirth, Miscarriage, and Infant Death Compassionate Friends Treatments and Therapies Dilation and Curettage (D&C) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 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 Genetics Genetics Home Reference: recurrent hydatidiform mole National Library of Medicine Diagnosis and Tests hCG Test (Pregnancy Test) American Association for Clinical Chemistry How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Pregnancy Loss or Miscarriage? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Progesterone Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Sonohysterography Array Thrombin Time American Association for Clinical Chemistry Ultrasound March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Statistics and Research PeriStats: Perinatal Statistics March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Specifics Pregnancy Complications: Bleeding and Spotting from the Vagina March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) American Society for Reproductive Medicine Repeated Miscarriage American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists What Causes a Blighted Ovum? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Journal Articles Pregnancy loss
