Miscarriage

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

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

• About Pregnancy Loss (Before 20 Weeks of Pregnancy) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Miscarriage Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Miscarriages Nemours Foundation
• Pregnancy Loss Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Specifics

• Bleeding and Spotting from the Vagina during Pregnancy March of Dimes Foundation
• Blighted Ovum: What Causes It? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Choriocarcinoma Medical Encyclopedia
• D and C – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Gestational trophoblastic disease Medical Encyclopedia
• Hydatidiform mole Medical Encyclopedia
• Serum progesterone Medical Encyclopedia

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
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find an Ob-Gyn American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• March of Dimes Foundation March of Dimes Foundation

Patient Handouts

• D and C Medical Encyclopedia
• HCG blood test – quantitative Medical Encyclopedia
• Miscarriage Medical Encyclopedia
• Miscarriage – threatened Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure and Cancer National Cancer Institute
• FAQs about Pregnancy Loss (Before 20 Weeks of Pregnancy) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Pregnancy After Miscarriage: What You Need to Know Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Treatments and Therapies

• Dilation and curettage (D&C) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Diagnosis and Tests

• How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose and Treat Pregnancy Loss (Before 20 Weeks of Pregnancy)? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Hysteroscopy National Library of Medicine
• Progesterone Test National Library of Medicine
• Sonohysterography Radiological Society of North America

Living With

• Miscarriage, Loss, and Grief March of Dimes Foundation

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• NIH Study Links Opioids to Pregnancy Loss
• Opening Up About Pregnancy and Loss

Statistics and Research

• PeriStats: Perinatal Statistics March of Dimes Foundation

Journal Articles

• Pregnancy loss

Genetics

• Recurrent hydatidiform mole: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine