pregnancy & babyGuide

What Is a Miscarriage?

A miscarriage generally refers to a pregnancy that ends spontaneously before the fetus reaches a stage at which it could survive outside the uterus. The gestational-age cutoff and terminology used to distinguish miscarriage from stillbirth or intrauterine fetal death may vary by country and medical guideline.

What is a chemical pregnancy?

A chemical pregnancy, also called a biochemical pregnancy, is a very early pregnancy loss that occurs after a pregnancy test becomes positive but before the pregnancy has progressed enough for a gestational sac to be seen on ultrasound. As levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG fall, a pregnancy test may subsequently become negative.

Because it occurs so early, some people may not realize they were pregnant and may simply experience what seems like a slightly late or heavier period.

Are there different types of miscarriage?

Yes. Different medical terms may be used depending on ultrasound findings and symptoms.

A missed miscarriage may be diagnosed when a previously detected fetal heartbeat is no longer present or when the pregnancy has stopped developing but pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus.

When a gestational sac develops without an embryo, this was traditionally called a blighted ovum and is now more commonly referred to as an anembryonic pregnancy. This is also a form of early pregnancy loss.

A complete miscarriage means that all pregnancy tissue has passed from the uterus, while an incomplete miscarriage means that some pregnancy tissue remains.

You don’t need to memorize all of these terms. What matters most is understanding your current condition and discussing any necessary treatment or follow-up with your healthcare provider.

Q. Is intentionally ending a pregnancy also considered a miscarriage?

A spontaneous pregnancy loss is generally distinguished from an intentional termination of pregnancy. In English-speaking healthcare settings, miscarriage is generally used for spontaneous pregnancy loss, while abortion or termination of pregnancy is used when a pregnancy is intentionally ended. Laws and medical terminology related to pregnancy termination vary by country.

Q. Is an ectopic pregnancy a miscarriage?

No. An ectopic pregnancy is a separate pregnancy complication. It occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally and, if untreated, may cause tubal rupture and serious internal bleeding, so prompt diagnosis and treatment are important.

Depending on the situation, treatment may involve medication such as methotrexate (MTX) or surgery.

Q. How common is miscarriage?

Miscarriage is relatively common, occurring in approximately 10–20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. The actual rate may be higher when very early pregnancy losses that occur before a pregnancy is recognized are included.

Having one miscarriage does not mean that it will happen again in your next pregnancy. Definitions of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) vary among professional organizations and healthcare systems, but evaluation may be considered after two or more pregnancy losses under commonly used current guidelines.

We’ve looked at miscarriage and several forms of early pregnancy loss. Diagnosis and treatment depend on gestational age, symptoms, and test results, so contact your healthcare provider if you experience concerning symptoms such as bleeding or severe abdominal pain.