Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the natural death of an embryo or fetus in the womb, before it is old enough to live on its own, outside the mother.^[1] The medical words for a miscarriage are spontaneous abortion. ("Spontaneous" means something that a person did not expect to happen).

Miscarriage
Other names	spontaneous abortion, early pregnancy loss
An ultrasound showing a gestational sac containing a yolk sac but no embryo
Medical specialty	Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Neonatology, Pediatrics
Symptoms	Vaginal bleeding with or without pain[2]
Complications	Infection, bleeding,[3] sadness, anxiety, guilt[4]
Usual onset	Before 20 weeks of pregnancy[5]
Causes	Chromosomal abnormalities,[2][6] uterine abnormalities[7]
Risk factors	Being an older parent, previous miscarriage, exposure to tobacco smoke, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, drug or alcohol use[8][9][10]
Diagnostic method	Physical examination, human chorionic gonadotropin, ultrasound[11]
Differential diagnosis	Ectopic pregnancy, implantation bleeding.[2]
Prevention	Prenatal care[12]
Treatment	Expectant management, vacuum aspiration, emotional support[9][13]
Medication	misoprostol
Frequency	10–50% of pregnancies[2][8]

An "abortion" is when a pregnancy ends early, before birth.

Among women who know they are pregnant, about 15-20% have miscarriages. (This means that up to 1 in every 5 women who know they are pregnant miscarries.)^[1] It is the most common complication (serious problem) that happens in early pregnancy in humans.^[14][15]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Susan Storck and A.D.A.M. Inc. "Miscarriage". American Accreditation HealthCare Commission.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Cite error: The named reference John20122 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
3. ↑ "Spontaneous Abortion – Gynecology and Obstetrics". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Pregnancy loss was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
5. ↑ Cite error: The named reference NIH2013Def was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
6. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Vai2015 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
7. ↑ Chan YY, Jayaprakasan K, Tan A, Thornton JG, Coomarasamy A, Raine-Fenning NJ (October 2011). "Reproductive outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies: a systematic review". Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 38 (4): 371–382. doi:10.1002/uog.10056. PMID 21830244. S2CID 40113681.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Cite error: The named reference NIH2013Epi2 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Cite error: The named reference Ol2014 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
10. ↑ Cite error: The named reference CarpSelmi2012 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
11. ↑ Cite error: The named reference NIH2015Diag was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
12. ↑ Cite error: The named reference NIH2013Pre was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
13. ↑ Cite error: The named reference NIH2013Tx was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
14. ↑ National Coordinating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (UK) (December 2012). "Ectopic Pregnancy and Miscarriage: Diagnosis and Initial Management in Early Pregnancy of Ectopic Pregnancy and Miscarriage". NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 154. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. PMID 23638497. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
15. ↑ "Abortion Guide".