Pregnancy loss
What it is
Losing a pregnancy before 13 completed weeks is called a miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss. It's common: it happens in about 10 in 100 known pregnancies.1 The chance rises with age. For people over 40, about 1 in 3 pregnancies end in .1
Why it happens
About half of early happen because the embryo didn't develop properly, most often because it had too many or too few chromosomes.1 It is usually a random event.1
Myth: Miscarriage is caused by stress, exercise, sex or something you did.
After a loss, many people search for a reason, and it's very human to blame a fall, a fright or a stressful week. ACOG is clear: in almost every case, a miscarriage isn't the pregnant person's fault. Working, exercising, stress, arguments, having sex, having used the pill before, and morning sickness don't cause it.1 Those things often just happened around the same time.
Signs
Bleeding is the most common sign. Call a doctor if you have:1
- spotting or bleeding, with or without pain
- a gush of fluid from the vagina
- tissue passing from the vagina
A little bleeding early in pregnancy is common and doesn't always mean a . If bleeding is heavy or comes with cramps like a period, contact a doctor right away.1 An ultrasound and blood tests for hCG can show whether the pregnancy is continuing, and sometimes it takes several to be sure.1
After a loss
Sometimes the tissue passes on its own, which can take up to 2 weeks; sometimes medicine or a short procedure is used. A doctor can explain the options.1 Avoid putting anything in the vagina for 1 to 2 weeks to prevent infection.1
Call a doctor right away for very heavy bleeding (soaking more than two maxi pads an hour for more than 2 hours), fever, chills or severe pain.1
Grief
Losing a pregnancy can bring deep sadness, and emotional healing often takes longer than physical healing. Partners may grieve differently. Talking to a doctor, a counselor or a support group can help.1
Recap
- Miscarriage ends about 10 in 100 known pregnancies, and about 1 in 3 for people over 40.
- About half are caused by the embryo having the wrong number of chromosomes.
- Work, exercise, stress, arguments, sex and past birth control use don't cause miscarriage.
- Bleeding is the most common sign, but light bleeding early in pregnancy is common and doesn't always mean a loss.
- Grief is normal. Support and counseling can help.
Words to know 3
| chromosomes | The structures in each cell that carry genes. |
|---|---|
| hCG | The pregnancy hormone. Falling levels can mean a pregnancy has been lost. |
| miscarriage | The loss of a pregnancy before 13 completed weeks. Doctors also call it early pregnancy loss. |
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your health.