There's more than one type of miscarriage

What causes miscarriages? Why do women miscarry?

It’s important to understand most miscarriages can’t be prevented. Myths about miscarriage abound, but they’re not caused by things like exercise, stress, arguments or morning sickness. In most cases, a recent fall or injury also isn’t to blame.

Most miscarriages are caused by chromosome abnormalities in the fetus. Other causes include:

• Certain illnesses, like severe diabetes
• A very serious infection or a major injury
• Abnormalities in the uterus or other reproductive organs
• Drug or alcohol use

Types of miscarriages

Your treatment may depend on the type of miscarriage you have. Learn about the different types of miscarriages below and always reach out to your doctor if you have miscarriage concerns.

Chemical pregnancy

A chemical pregnancy typically occurs within the first 5 weeks of pregnancy — before many women even know they’re pregnant. Treatment isn’t typically needed for chemical pregnancies. A chemical pregnancy is considered a miscarriage, though it often happens early in the pregnancy. Learn more about what a chemical pregnancy is, why it happens and how common this miscarriage is.

Missed miscarriage

In a missed miscarriage, a miscarriage may have occurred without any symptoms, like bleeding or pain. In fact, many women may continue to feel pregnant and experience pregnancy symptoms.

This type of miscarriage is often found during a routine ultrasound during pregnancy care. The ultrasound may show the fetus doesn’t have a heartbeat. It can be shocking to learn about the miscarriage in this way when it seemed that everything was progressing normally. Your doctor will talk with you about treatment options, which may include waiting for tissue to pass on its own, medication to start or speed up the process or a procedure to remove pregnancy tissue.

Recurrent miscarriage

If you’ve experienced 2 or more early miscarriages (within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy), it’s called recurrent miscarriage. You may also hear the terms “repeated miscarriages” or “recurrent pregnancy loss.”

Your doctor will likely recommend further testing after a second miscarriage to help find the cause. He or she will ask you about your medical history, past pregnancies and perform a physical exam. You may also have blood tests to detect immune system problems, genetic testing to determine genetic causes or imaging tests to detect a uterine problem.

Incomplete miscarriage

Sometimes, a miscarriage starts but not all the pregnancy tissue passes on its own or takes a long time to pass. You may experience symptoms such as:

• A fever and flu-like symptoms
• Heavy bleeding
• Passing blood clots
• Prolonged bleeding for several weeks
• Stomach pain that continues to worsen

Your doctor may suggest medication or a procedure to remove the remainder of pregnancy tissue.

Threatened miscarriage

A threatened miscarriage is a term people sometimes use to indicate the potential for a miscarriage or early pregnancy loss. It refers to cases when a pregnant woman experiences bleeding or pain but hasn’t miscarried.

The good news is that most women with a threatened miscarriage go on to have a normal pregnancy. Your provider may perform an ultrasound to check the baby’s heartbeat, growth and amount of bleeding. He or she may also perform a pelvic exam to check your cervix.

Your doctor may recommend treatment or other steps to take to avoid miscarriage and increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy

 An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. While it’s technically not a type of miscarriage, it does result in pregnancy loss as implantation outside the uterus isn’t a viable pregnancy. Learn more about an ectopic pregnancy, what it is and treatment.

An ectopic pregnancy requires medical treatment. It can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated.

Rhesus (Rh) factor and miscarriages

The Rhesus (Rh) factor is important in pregnancy. It’s what determines whether you have a negative or positive blood type and can sometimes be a byproduct of a miscarriage. While no clear association exists between blood type and miscarriage risk, it’s important to know your blood type if you experience a miscarriage and want to avoid risk of Rh incompatibility in subsequent pregnancies.

Rh factor is a protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells. Someone who has the protein is Rh-positive (Rh+); someone who doesn’t is Rh-negative (Rh-).

If an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-positive baby or has significant hemorrhaging during pregnancy, the mother’s body might form antibodies against the protein on the baby’s red blood cells. This can lead to Rh incompatibility and can cause the mother's immune system to produce antibodies against the baby’s Rh-positive blood cells, potentially leading to complications such as hemolytic disease of the newborn. If unrecognized, the baby might go on to develop in-utero anemia.

Fortunately, this condition can be prevented with medication that prevents your body from developing these antibodies.

Miscarriage treatment: Do I need to see a doctor if I have a miscarriage?

Experiencing a miscarriage can be emotionally and physically challenging. It’s typically best to consult a doctor if you experience a miscarriage or have signs and symptoms of miscarriage. The type of miscarriage you have and when can also determine if treatment is necessary or advised. Talk with your doctor about the best course of action to take if you have miscarriage symptoms. Learn more about your options for managing a miscarriage.

While spotting is common during the first trimester, particularly around the time of uterine implantation, any bleeding similar to a menstrual flow or severe abdominal pain warrants an examination. If you didn’t previously have a preconception appointment with your doctor, it might be beneficial to do so after experiencing a pregnancy loss to discuss your (and your partner’s) health.

Frequently asked questions about miscarriage