In short
Miscarriage, the loss of a pregnancy before about 20 to 28 weeks depending on the definition used, is common and usually not caused by anything the pregnant person did or didn't do.
Emergency if: Heavy bleeding that soaks a pad soon after you put it on, sudden severe tummy or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, or feeling very weak, faint, dizzy or sick, or collapsing — call emergency services now. The NHS says these can be signs you need immediate treatment, and ACOG says sudden severe pain, shoulder pain or weakness can mean a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and needs emergency care.
On your report
Beta-hCG (Non-Pregnancy / Tumor Marker Use), Hemoglobin
On this page
01
How Common It Is
Miscarriage, the loss of a pregnancy before about 20 to 28 weeks depending on the definition used, is one of the most common pregnancy complications, and a large share of known pregnancies end this way, most often in the first trimester. The true rate is even higher when very early losses that happen before a person knows they're pregnant are included.
The most common cause is a random chromosomal abnormality in the developing embryo that isn't compatible with continued development — something that happens by chance and isn't caused by exercise, stress, sex, or most everyday activities during pregnancy.
02
Signs to Watch For
Vaginal bleeding, ranging from light spotting to heavier flow, and cramping are the most common signs, though light spotting in early pregnancy is also common and doesn't always mean a miscarriage is happening. Passing tissue, or a sudden decrease in pregnancy symptoms after weeks of feeling pregnant, can also be signs. Because early-pregnancy bleeding and pain can also be the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy — a pregnancy growing outside the uterus that can become an emergency — any bleeding or pain with a positive pregnancy test is worth having checked rather than assumed to be a miscarriage.
Heavy bleeding that soaks through protection every hour, or bleeding along with fever or feeling faint, needs immediate emergency care rather than a routine appointment — fever can signal an infection alongside the miscarriage, and feeling faint can mean blood loss significant enough to need treatment right away. Severe tummy or pelvic pain, or pain in the tip of the shoulder, needs emergency care too: call emergency services now, because it can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
03
How It's Confirmed
Ultrasound is the main tool, checking for a heartbeat and confirming whether the pregnancy is continuing, has already ended, or is uncertain and needs a repeat scan. Blood tests for hCG, sometimes repeated over several days, help clarify an uncertain ultrasound, since hCG that's falling rather than rising as expected supports a miscarriage diagnosis.
Sometimes results are inconclusive on the first visit, and a follow-up scan or blood test after several days to a week gives a clearer answer rather than rushing to a conclusion from a single data point.
04
What Happens Next
Once a miscarriage is confirmed, there are generally three paths: waiting for the body to pass the tissue on its own, taking medication to help it happen, or a minor procedure to remove the remaining tissue. All three are medically reasonable options, and the choice usually comes down to personal preference, how far along the pregnancy was, and whether there's bleeding or infection that needs faster resolution.
Rh-negative blood type sometimes requires a shot of Rh immune globulin after a miscarriage to prevent complications in future pregnancies, so blood type is typically checked as part of the workup.
05
Recovery and Trying Again
Physical recovery from an early miscarriage usually takes one to two weeks, though periods typically return within four to six weeks. Emotional recovery has no fixed timeline, and grief after a miscarriage is a normal, valid response regardless of how early it happened.
Most people who miscarry go on to have a successful pregnancy afterward, and many doctors say it's medically fine to try again once physically ready, though some prefer to wait for one normal cycle. Two or more consecutive miscarriages is the point at which doctors typically start looking for an underlying cause.
How urgent is it?
Routine — see a doctor
You have had a miscarriage and want support, counselling or advice about trying again — raise it with your doctor at a routine appointment. The NHS says you can try again when you feel ready, after your symptoms have gone, and that counselling and other support are available.
Same-day — call promptly
Any bleeding or spotting in early pregnancy, even if light and painless, or cramping — contact your maternity unit or early pregnancy unit today so it can be checked. The NHS says to get urgent help for light bleeding or spotting, and MedlinePlus says to contact your doctor for any bleeding.
Emergency — act now
Heavy bleeding that soaks a pad soon after you put it on, sudden severe tummy or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, or feeling very weak, faint, dizzy or sick, or collapsing — call emergency services now. The NHS says these can be signs you need immediate treatment, and ACOG says sudden severe pain, shoulder pain or weakness can mean a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and needs emergency care.
Values mentioned in this story
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Sources
- Miscarriagemedlineplus.gov
- Miscarriage — NHSnhs.uk
- Ectopic Pregnancy — ACOG patient FAQacog.org
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