What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage refers to the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation.

Important terms:

An embryo - an early stage of the organism's development, which starts from fertilization and continues until approximately 10 weeks of pregnancy.

From ten weeks of pregnancy until birth, the embryo is referred to as a fetus. 

What causes a miscarriage?
A pregnancy may end spontaneously without any identifiable cause or due to such disorders as genetic problems, anomalies of uterine development, diabetes, and so on.

What are the symptoms of a miscarriage?

The leading symptom is vaginal bleeding and pain in the lower abdomen. At any stage of pregnancy, it is necessary to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist in case of such complaints.

Other concerning symptoms include:
fever (37.8°C or higher)

unusual or different discharge from the vagina

or discharge that has an unpleasant odor.

If you experience similar complaints and cannot reach your gynecologist, contact the emergency department. These symptoms do not always indicate a miscarriage; however, timely differentiation is necessary.

How is diagnosis made?

In early stages, the gold standard for diagnosis is a vaginal ultrasound, where the presence of a heartbeat indicates that the pregnancy is not compromised and is progressing.

How is a miscarriage managed?

If the pregnancy has ended, it is necessary to evacuate the pregnancy tissue from the uterus, which can occur: spontaneously, medically, or surgically. 

Your doctor will explain these methods to you, and together you will make a decision on which is medically justified in this specific situation.

In cases of Rh-negative blood, an anti-D immunoglobulin injection is necessary.

Is it possible to prevent a miscarriage?

Unfortunately, there is no specific intervention to prevent it; however, certain actions can reduce the risk. For example:

Avoid products containing nicotine.

Activities where the risk of abdominal or pelvic trauma is high.

Treatment or prevention of certain infections.

Any medication or supplement taken during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor.

Is it possible to have a normal pregnancy in the future?

Of course! Although the risk of recurrence increases after a miscarriage, most patients are likely to have uncomplicated and problem-free pregnancies in the future.

Article author: Niko Khoridze - obstetrician-gynecologist