What is miscarriage? — Miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends before a person has been pregnant for 20 weeks. (A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.) The uterus is the part of your body where a baby grows (figure 1). A "fetus" is what a baby is called while it is growing inside you.

Miscarriage is also called "pregnancy loss."

What causes miscarriage? — Different problems can cause miscarriage. It can happen when:

●The fetus begins to develop but then stops growing, often because it has genetic problems

●The pregnant person has certain medical problems, such as poorly controlled diabetes, or problems with the shape of the uterus

What are the symptoms of miscarriage? — The most common symptoms are bleeding from the vagina and belly pain or cramping. See your doctor or nurse right away if you are pregnant and have these symptoms. If you are not sure if you are pregnant, take a home pregnancy test.

You should also see your doctor or nurse if you are pregnant and:

●You have a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher

●Anything solid comes out of your vagina

●Thick fluid that smells bad comes out of your vagina

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or nurse, or if you have heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in 1 to 2 hours), go to the emergency room.

These symptoms do not always mean that you are having a miscarriage. Your doctor or nurse can help figure out if anything is wrong.

Are there tests I should have? — Your doctor or nurse might be able to tell if you have had a miscarriage just by asking you questions and doing a pelvic exam. They might also look at your uterus using an ultrasound, a machine that uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of your body. That way, the doctor can look at the fetus and check whether it has a heartbeat. If your fetus has a heartbeat, you have not had a miscarriage. Your doctor can tell you if you are likely to have one. You might also need a blood test and then another blood test several days later to check on your pregnancy.

If you have a negative blood type (for example, "O negative"), you might need a special injection to help prevent problems in future pregnancies. If you don't know your blood type, ask your doctor or nurse to check it.

How is miscarriage treated? — It is not possible to stop a miscarriage that has already started. If you have had a miscarriage, the fetus and the extra fluid in your uterus need to leave your body. Your options include:

●Waiting to let it exit through your vagina by itself

●Medicine to help your uterus get rid of what was inside it

●Surgery to remove the contents of your uterus leftover from pregnancy

In most cases, it is up to you which of these to choose. To help you make the decision, your doctor or nurse can talk to you about each option. This is a very personal choice. Some people prefer to wait and let things happen naturally. Other people prefer specific treatment so they can have a better idea of what to expect and how long it will take. Sometimes, depending on your situation, 1 or more of these might not be an option.

Can I prevent a miscarriage? — There is no way to make sure that you will not have a miscarriage. But you can lower your chances of having one by avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine, and injury to your belly. Having a fever or some kinds of infections puts you at risk for miscarriage, so you should also talk to your doctor about how to avoid getting some kinds of infection.

Some of the invasive tests that can be done to check on the fetus during pregnancy can, in rare cases, cause miscarriage. If your doctor or nurse suggests any of these tests, ask whether the test could cause a miscarriage. Also, some medicines or other treatments can be harmful to a fetus. Before you take any medicine (herbal, over-the-counter, or prescription) or have a medical treatment or X-ray, ask your doctor or nurse whether it could hurt your fetus.

If you have had a miscarriage in the past and you want to get pregnant again, your doctor or nurse might suggest taking daily prenatal vitamins and low-dose aspirin before and during your next pregnancy. This might lower your risk of having another miscarriage. Aspirin is not usually recommended for people who have not had a past miscarriage, or for people who have never given birth before. Do not take aspirin or any other medicines unless your doctor, nurse, or midwife tells you it is safe.

What do I do after a miscarriage? — After you have had a miscarriage, you should not have sex or put anything in your vagina for 2 weeks. Ask your doctor or nurse when you can start using birth control again after having a miscarriage.

It's normal to feel sad or anxious, or have other emotions, after you have a miscarriage. If you are struggling or think you might be depressed, mention it to your doctor or nurse. There are treatments and coping strategies that can help.

Will I be able to have a normal pregnancy after a miscarriage? — Probably. Most people who have a miscarriage go on to have healthy pregnancies. Still, people who have had a miscarriage are more likely than those who have not to have other miscarriages.

Your doctor will tell you if you should wait before trying to get pregnant again. In most cases, it's safe to start trying again as soon as you feel ready. If you have 3 or more miscarriages, your doctor might want to run some tests to try to figure out the reason.

More on this topic

Patient education: Bleeding in early pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Repeated miscarriage (The Basics)

Patient education: Miscarriage (Beyond the Basics)