Miscarriage

What is a miscarriage and how common are miscarriages?

Miscarriages are quite common. Many women have to experience one or more miscarriages. The fact is that almost half of all pregnancies are terminated spontaneously. Often a miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities or other developmental problems in the fetus. Sometimes it can be an infection, but in many cases there is no clear explanation. Most miscarriages occur early, before the twelfth week of pregnancy. The body is usually not harmed, but it can be difficult to deal with a miscarriage emotionally.

According to the medical definition, a miscarriage is the termination of a pregnancy before the 22nd week. After that, the fetus is usually so well developed that it has a small chance of surviving. In this case, the birth is initiated too early, a so-called premature birth. The aim of the treatment is then to promote the further development of the fetus.

symptoms of miscarriage

If you have a miscarriage, you may experience pain in your stomach and abdomen . Abdominal pain is felt far down in the abdomen and can be crampy or reminiscent of severe menstrual cramps. Blood also often comes from the vagina—the blood may be mixed with runny mucus or blood clots. Some women also experience lower back pain .

Most people do not have heavy bleeding until the uterus is expelling the remains of the pregnancy. After that, you bleed a little less for a few days. If the uterus fails to expel all of the debris, bleeding continues. Then the body needs help to end the miscarriage. In what is known as a missed miscarriage, you may only get a brownish discharge . Even then, the body needs help to expel the remnants of pregnancy. After a miscarriage, the feeling of being pregnant decreases.

Other possible explanations

Keep in mind that bleeding and menstrual-like pain during pregnancy are not always a sign of miscarriage. Bleeding is common and need not be dangerous. For example, it may be what is known as breakthrough bleeding from the uterus, which is a natural consequence of the development of the pregnancy. The cervix bleeds more easily during pregnancy, for example in connection with sexual intercourse. Sometimes cervical polyps, vaginal infections, or anus hemorrhoids can also cause small bleeding.

In more unusual cases, they can be serious conditions that require medical attention quickly. An ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo grows outside the uterus, usually causes severe abdominal pain in the lower abdomen, often with bleeding.

At the end of pregnancy, there can sometimes be problems with the placenta, causing heavy bleeding. Sometimes bleeding can occur in connection with cell changes, for example, but this is uncommon and is usually detected at earlier pregnancy tests.

Causes of miscarriage

Miscarriage is usually not caused by factors over which you have control, and sometimes there is no clear explanation. Research shows that it is often due to chromosomal abnormalities or developmental defects in the fetus. Sometimes it is due to defects in sperm or eggs, other times errors occurred during fertilization or at an early stage of cell division. Then the embryo cannot grow and the pregnancy terminates by itself.

It can also be due to infections in the uterus or the egg not implanting properly in the uterus. Later miscarriages after the 12th week are often caused by problems with the cervix. In certain cases, defects in the placenta can also mean that the fetus cannot survive. A serious external injury can also cause a miscarriage, although this is rare.

An ectopic pregnancy, which means that the embryo is trying to grow outside the uterus, always causes a miscarriage because it is not possible for the body to conceive elsewhere.

Risk factors associated with miscarriage:

• alcohol, smoking and drugs
• increasing age
• severe overweight
• hormonal problems (such as thyroid problems or a lack of corpus luteum hormones)
• Chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes and SLE)
• Infections caused by rubella, toxoplasma (parasites) or listeria (bacteria), for example
• Abnormalities or abnormalities in the uterus

examination and treatment

To diagnose a miscarriage, a pelvic exam is often performed using an ultrasound in the vagina . Premature miscarriage sometimes requires no treatment at all, but the body may need help to remove any remnants of the pregnancy. You will then receive either medical treatment in the form of pills or a short procedure involving a uterine cavity.

Women who have had multiple miscarriages with the same partner may need an exam to determine a possible cause. Then, among other things, the uterus, eggs and sperm are examined . In the case of a miscarriage that occurs late in pregnancy, the cervix is ​​usually examined. And in the event of a new pregnancy, it may sometimes be necessary to support the pregnancy with a band placed around the cervix.

What to do if you have a miscarriage

Sometimes it can be hard to know for sure if you’ve actually had a miscarriage because many women don’t realize it. If you get bleeding early in pregnancy that lasts a few weeks and have menstrual-like pain, you may have miscarried. You are particularly susceptible to uterine infections while you are bleeding, so you should avoid bathing, using tampons or menstrual cups, or having sex. After a month, the body is usually completely restored. To make sure you are no longer pregnant, you should take a pregnancy test.

If you suspect you’re miscarrying but aren’t getting any permanent, persistent bleeding, you can always contact a health care professional. This also applies if you feel insecure or uneasy about what is going on in your body. After a miscarriage, there may still be tissue left in your uterus that needs to be removed by a doctor.

When you are healthy and want to get pregnant again after a miscarriage, your body usually adapts quickly. In normal cases, you will ovulate again a few weeks after a miscarriage. But not all those affected are emotionally ready to do so again. A pregnancy that is suddenly terminated can be very distressing and it can be difficult to process the experience. It’s often good to talk to a social worker or a psychotherapist, for example, who can help you process your feelings.

To improve your chances of getting pregnant again and avoid miscarriage if possible, there are a few things you can think about:

• take folic acid as a vitamin supplement
• avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking and drugs
• try to lose weight if you are severely overweight
• avoid medication if possible (many preparations have negative side effects – read the leaflet or ask your doctor or pharmacist)

If you have chronic diseases such as diabetes, it’s best to consult with a doctor before you conceive as there may be an increased risk of miscarriage.

When you need medical help

If you’re pregnant and have persistent bleeding, you’ve likely miscarried. If you only have menstrual-like pain and the bleeding stops after about 1 week, you generally do not need to seek medical attention. It is normal to continue bleeding for another 2 weeks, albeit to a lesser extent. However, if the bleeding increases, you should seek medical attention. This also applies if bleeding or discharge smells particularly bad .

If you are unsure whether it is really a miscarriage, you should also contact a doctor. In the first half of pregnancy, you can seek help at a gynecological clinic or maternity center. Bleeding after week 22+0 always needs to be checked out in a maternity ward, even if you’re not bleeding that much.

If you’re pregnant or think you’re going to miscarry and you’re experiencing severe abdominal pain or bleeding, you need to go to an emergency room. Even if you are bleeding less but generally feeling sick, dizzy, or have a fever , you should seek immediate medical attention.

Here’s how Med-Healths can help you

If you have severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding and fever, you should call for emergency medical help. If you suspect you may have had a miscarriage and need advice and information on minor issues, we at Med-Healths can help. A doctor will make an individual assessment based on your symptoms and the findings of the examination. You can also be referred for further care. A physical exam is sometimes required for miscarriages.