Introduction

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy that happens sometime during the first 23 weeks. The majority of miscarriages happen during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, which is often referred to as the first trimester. The main symptom of a miscarriage is vaginal bleeding.

How common are miscarriages?

Miscarriages are much more common than most people realise. This may be because many women who have had a miscarriage prefer not to talk about it.

An estimated 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, although the figure could be significantly higher because many miscarriages are thought to occur before a woman realises that she is pregnant.

It is thought that most miscarriages are the result of random variations in the chromosomes of the baby. Chromosomes are genetic ‘building blocks’ that guide the development of a baby. If a baby has too many or not enough chromosomes, the pregnancy can end in miscarriage.

Outlook

While a miscarriage does not usually seriously affect a woman’s physical health, it can have a significant emotional impact. Many couples experience feelings of loss and grief.

For most women, a miscarriage is a one-off event (known as a sporadic miscarriage) and they go on to have a successful pregnancy in the future.

Recurrent miscarriages (the loss of three or more pregnancies in a row) are uncommon and affect 1% of all couples. Even in the case of recurrent miscarriages, an estimated 75% of women go on to have a successful pregnancy in the future.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, which can vary from light spotting to heavy bleeding.

It is important to realise that light vaginal bleeding is common during the first trimester of pregnancy, so having this symptom does not necessarily mean that you have had a miscarriage.

Other symptoms of a miscarriage include:

• cramping and pain in your lower abdomen,
• a discharge of fluid and/or tissue from your vagina, and
• no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea and breast tenderness.

When to seek medical help

See your GP if you experience vaginal bleeding and/or discharge. These symptoms do not automatically mean that you have had a miscarriage, but they should always be investigated.

When to seek urgent medical help

On rare occasions, miscarriages happen because the pregnancy develops outside the womb. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are potentially serious because there is a risk that you could experience internal bleeding.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:

• heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking more than one sanitary pad every hour),
• persistent and severe abdominal pain,
• pain in your shoulder tip, and
• feeling very faint and light-headed.