Miscarriage
What is Miscarriage?
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the term used to denote the loss of a fetus within the womb before the 20th week of pregnancy is completed.
Many pregnancies are lost spontaneously before a woman recognizes that she is pregnant, and the clinical signs of miscarriage are mistaken for a heavy or late menses.1
The term miscarriage is often subdivided for clinical purposes into:
Threatened abortion: A pregnancy complicated by bleeding before 20 weeks’ gestation.
Inevitable abortion: The products of conception have not been expelled but a miscarriage will happen.
Incomplete abortion: Some, but not all, of the products of conception have been passed; retained products may be part of the fetus, placenta or membranes.
Missed abortion: A pregnancy in which there is a fetal demise (usually for a number of weeks) but the products of conception are not expelled.
Complete abortion: All products of conception have been passed without the need for surgical or medical intervention.1,2
What are the Causes and risk factors of Miscarriage?
Causes of miscarriage
Genetic and uterine abnormalities, endocrine and immune system dysfunctions, infectious agents, environmental pollutants, psychogenetic factors and endometriosis are the most important known causes of spontaneous
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Miscarriage?
Signs and symptoms of miscarriage
The hallmark of spontaneous abortion in a pregnant woman is vaginal bleeding, which may vary from scanty spotting to frank bleeding. It may be associated with mild–to- severe pain in the abdomen. The pattern of bleeding is slight in
How is Miscarriage Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of miscarriage
The doctor diagnoses the condition based on the signs and symptoms observed, vaginal examination, certain laboratory investigations and imaging studies. Vaginal examination helps the doctor to assess the severity of the condition
What is the Treatment for Miscarriage?
Treatment of miscarriage
The management depends on the type of abortion and ranges from expectant management to prompt surgical evacuation. Severe cases may require hospitalization and surgical evacuation of the contents of the uterus.
What are the Complications of Miscarriage?
Complications to the mother are quite rare. However, in certain cases one may suffer from infection due to retained products of conception, which may need surgical intervention.
How can Miscarriage be Prevented?
Proper care of the underlying disorders can prevent complications of these disorders resulting in miscarriage. Always speak to the doctor before planning for a pregnancy and discuss the precautions that need to be taken along with periodic visits to the antenatal clinics.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 22, 2012