Introduction

A miscarriage means losing a pregnancy in the womb before 20 weeks. People also call it early pregnancy loss. There are many reasons why miscarriages happen, but most of them cannot be avoided or stopped once they begin.

What Leads to a Miscarriage?

The exact cause of miscarriage often remains unknown. Most of the time, it doesn’t happen because of anything the pregnant person did or didn’t do. Miscarriage tends to be a random occurrence. Activities like working, staying active, feeling stressed, having arguments, engaging in sex or using birth control before pregnancy do not have an impact on miscarriage. A small number of medications are linked to miscarriage, and morning sickness—which includes nausea and vomiting in pregnancy—doesn’t lead to it either. Repeated miscarriages may happen due to chromosome issues, issues with how the uterus or cervix functions, or certain infections.

Who Faces a Higher Chance of Miscarriage?

While a single cause of miscarriage is not always certain factors can raise the likelihood. Individuals who are more likely to experience miscarriage may include: People with two or more past miscarriages

• Anyone over 35 years old
• Smokers
• Pregnant individuals who drink alcohol or use illegal drugs
• Pregnant individuals taking harmful medicines
• Pregnant individuals exposed to dangerous substances like paint thinner
• Those who get pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD)
• Those experiencing social or economic challenges affecting their health Certain medical conditions can also raise miscarriage risks like:
• Autoimmune diseases
• Excessive weight gain
• Hormonal problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome
• Blood sugar disorders like diabetes
• Problems with the thyroid gland
• Birth defects in the heart or kidney diseases

Signs of Miscarriage

You need to see your obstetrician if any of the following warning signs occur:

• Vaginal bleeding happens most often, though it can also start in early pregnancy for other reasons.
• Cramping feels like period pain, but it can also come with sharp discomfort in the lower belly or abdomen.
• Pain in the back
• A rise in body temperature or fever
• A sudden rush of fluid from the vagina even if there's no bleeding or pain
• Tissue leaving the vagina
• Pregnancy symptoms like nausea, breast soreness or the feeling of movement may fade away.

Ways to Treat a Miscarriage

If you notice miscarriage symptoms, your doctor might ask you to visit their office. This visit could include an ultrasound, blood work or a pelvic exam. If they confirm a miscarriage is happening, they will explain what lies ahead and discuss ways to handle the pregnancy ending. How the miscarriage is treated will depend on factors like how far along the pregnancy was, your health, age, and other medical considerations.

• Wait-and-see Method If you decide to wait and let the body handle the miscarriage, bleeding will happen as the body clears the tissue through the vaginal canal. This process often takes around two weeks but could take a bit longer.
• Using Medication for Miscarriage Medicine can help speed up the process of clearing pregnancy tissue. Doctors might suggest it or offer it as a treatment option. Some medicines are swallowed, while others are placed into the vagina, depending on what the doctor advises. Sometimes the medicine might not clear all the tissue. In that case, surgery will be needed. Checking back with your doctor ensures the medicine worked, and no extra treatment is needed.
• Surgery After Miscarriage Doctors might suggest surgery to treat a miscarriage if the pregnancy has progressed to a stage where medication is no longer as useful. They could also recommend it when they judge it to be your safest choice. This depends on how far along the pregnancy is and any risks involved.

How long does a Miscarriage Take to Recover From?

It can take up to two months to recover after a miscarriage. To prevent infection, avoid having sex and putting anything like tampons into the vagina for at least one or two weeks. Most people see their periods return in about four to six weeks. However, it is possible to conceive again as early as two weeks after an early miscarriage. Healing from the emotional pain of a miscarriage might take a while. Coping with the loss of pregnancy often involves time and seeking help from family, friends, counsellors, support groups or similar resources.