Miscarriage through period
Bleeding, Clots, Timing, and Other Signs
Miscarriage is fairly common in the first trimester. It happens in about 10 percent of known pregnancies.
In some cases, miscarriage can occur before you know you’re pregnant. If this happens, you might not notice anything different from your usual period.
The further along you are in a pregnancy, the less likely it is that a miscarriage will feel like a period.
Continue reading to learn more about early miscarriage, including specific symptoms to watch for, when you should see a doctor, and more.
The most common symptoms of early miscarriage are cramping and bleeding.
However, spotting or light bleeding during early pregnancy aren’t always a sign of miscarriage. If this happens, watch for any other unusual symptoms.
Other symptoms of miscarriage
- cramping in your abdomen or lower back (This could start out like period cramps, but the pain typically worsens over time.)
- nausea
- diarrhea
- passing fluids, larger-than-normal blood clots, or tissue from your vagina
Timing
A miscarriage can happen any time after fertilization. If you didn’t know you were pregnant, it would be easy to mistake it for a period.
Both a period and a miscarriage can cause spotting to heavy bleeding.
After the first eight weeks or so, it’s less likely that you’ll mistake a miscarriage for a period.
Duration
You know how long and heavy your typical period is.
During a miscarriage, bleeding gets heavier and lasts longer than a period.
As your cervix starts to dilate, cramping may become more painful than typical period cramping.
Characteristics
Bleeding during miscarriage can appear brown and resemble coffee grounds. Or it can be pink to bright red.
It can alternate between light and heavy or even stop temporarily before starting up again.
If you miscarry before you’re eight weeks pregnant, it might look the same as a heavy period. Later, you’re more likely to notice fetal or placental tissue.
Menstruation products
Heavy bleeding, pieces of tissue, or large blood clots on your menstruation products could mean that you’re having more than a heavy period.
See a doctor if you’re soaking through a tampon or pad every hour for more than two consecutive hours.
You should call a doctor or other healthcare provider any time you experience unexpected pain or excessive bleeding.
These symptoms can result from an ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus, possibly inside a fallopian tube. It’s a medical emergency.
You should also call a doctor if you experience bleeding alongside:
- mucus
- tissue
- blood clots
- what feels like uterine contractions
If you believe you’re having a miscarriage, ask your doctor the following:
- Should I collect a sample of blood or tissue? (This isn’t always necessary.)
- Should I go to an emergency room or make an office appointment?
- Is it fine to drive myself, or do you recommend against it?
If it appears that you’ve had a miscarriage, your doctor will want to perform a physical exam.
Be sure to discuss all your symptoms, including the amount of:
- bleeding
- clotting
- pain
- any tissue that may have been expelled
Testing may include:
- an ultrasound to check the uterus for signs of an embryo or a heartbeat
- a blood test to check for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a substance that indicates pregnancy
There’s no way to stop a miscarriage in progress. If your doctor determines that you’ve experienced a miscarriage, they’ll want to check for:
- signs of infection
- uncontrollable bleeding
- tissue that may be left in your uterus
It can take two weeks or more to completely expel the tissue naturally. Your doctor will review with you typical bleeding patterns to expect. If you have heavy bleeding lasting several days or any signs of infection, you may need medical treatment.
If your doctor isn’t sure that all of the pregnancy tissue has been cleared from your uterus, they may order an ultrasound to confirm.
Your doctor can prescribe medication, such as misoprostol (Cytotec), to increase uterine contractions to help you expel the tissue.
You’ll experience cramping and bleeding as you pass tissue and blood.
Most people pass the tissue within 24 hours after taking the drug. For others, it can take a few days to complete. Either way, it doesn’t require a hospital stay.
Your doctor may be able to prescribe pain medication to help ease your symptoms.
If your blood type is Rh negative, you’ll need an injection of Rh immunoglobulin. This may help prevent complications in a future pregnancy.
There are also a few surgical options to remove tissue from the uterus. This includes:
- Vacuum aspiration. Your doctor inserts a thin tube that contains a suction device into your uterus. This can be done with local anesthesia in your doctor’s office.
- Dilation and curettage (D&C). Your doctor dilates your cervix, and then uses an instrument called a curette to scrape your uterine lining.
This can be done at a surgical center or operating room on an outpatient basis. Regional or general anesthesia can be used.
Both of these treatments have been well-studied and are considered safe. They each carry a very small risk of serious complications.
If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, it’s important to understand that it isn’t your fault.
In many cases, doctors are unable determine the cause. Here are some things that can contribute to miscarriage:
During the first trimester
As many as 80 percent of miscarriages occur in the first trimester.
When a miscarriage occurs in the first five weeks after fertilization, it’s called a “chemical pregnancy.” It’s so early that you might not have known you were pregnant.
Although your period may seem heavier than usual, there might not be any other noticeable sign of miscarriage.
Miscarriages in the first trimester often have to do with chromosome abnormalities that interfere with normal development.
Missing or extra chromosomes are linked to 50 percent of all miscarriages.
Sometimes, a fertilized egg simply doesn’t develop into an embryo (blighted ovum).
It may help to know that having sex, exercising, morning sickness, and previous use of oral contraceptives don’t cause miscarriage. Even an accidental fall doesn’t necessarily cause it.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), smoking and alcohol consumption in the first trimester may result in a slightly higher risk of miscarriage. But the research on this is mixed.
It’s also worth noting that drinking less than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day doesn’t appear to increase the risk of miscarriage.
Some things that may increase the risk of early miscarriage are:
- fibroids or other abnormalities of the uterus
- hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- uncontrolled diabetes
- use of cocaine or similar drugs
During the second trimester
About 2 to 3 percent of miscarriages occur during the second trimester.
Some things that may increase the risk are:
- conditions that can cause blood clots
- early preeclampsia or eclampsia
- fetal abnormalities
- fibroids or other abnormalities of the uterus
- infection of the uterus
- lupus
- prior surgery of the cervix
- trauma
- uncontrolled diabetes
- hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- high blood pressure
- use of cocaine or similar drugs
During the third trimester
Losing a pregnancy starting from the 20th week of pregnancy and into the third trimester is considered stillbirth, not miscarriage.
In general, the risk of stillbirth increases with maternal age.
If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, it doesn’t mean you’ll have another, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have children.
Most people who experience a miscarriage can go on to have a successful pregnancy.
Miscarriage shouldn’t affect your ability to get pregnant.
You can ovulate and become pregnant within two weeks of an early miscarriage.
If you don’t want to become pregnant again, you should use birth control right away.
About 1 percent of people have multiple miscarriages. If you’ve experienced several miscarriages, your doctor might recommend special testing.
Even if you’ve had three miscarriages in a row, there’s a 70 percent chance your next pregnancy will be successful.
Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid sex, tampons, and douches for two weeks. This will help prevent infection.
They may also want you to take a pregnancy test after about two weeks. This can help them determine whether your hormone levels are back to normal.
In the meantime, call your doctor if you:
- are bleeding heavier than expected or notice that the blood stays bright red
- are soaking through more than two maxi pads an hour for more than two hours
- notice a foul-smelling discharge
- experience abdominal tenderness or severe pain
- have persistent cramping
- develop a fever or chills
For the first few days, you may notice blood clots and tissue passing, but this should taper off after about a week.
It will take about four to eight weeks for your regular period to return.
Mild exercise following an early miscarriage is usually fine, but check with your doctor. It may depend on how far along you were, as well as your overall health.
There are many emotions a person might have following a miscarriage. Some feel anger, sadness, or profound loss. Others might feel relieved.
These feelings may have to do with whether you knew you were pregnant or if you were trying to have a baby.
Pregnancy and miscarriage also cause hormone fluctuations, which can affect your emotions.
Everyone is different, so there’s no correct way to feel about experiencing a miscarriage. It may take some time for you to process everything.
You may find it helpful to talk to your partner, family, or friends about what you’re going through.
You may also consider looking into support groups for people who have experienced miscarriage. Sometimes it helps to talk to others who have been through the same thing.
Here are a few places to seek support:
- your doctor’s office or local hospital for referrals to support services
- clergy
- Compassionate Friends, which has a searchable database of local chapters
- March of Dimes Loss and Grief Forum
- Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support which offers online support and information on how to find local groups
If grief continues to worsen after a few weeks, talk to a doctor about your options for treatment. You may benefit from grief counseling or treatment for depression.
Miscarriage isn’t your fault.
Physical recovery generally takes a few weeks. Everyone has their own timetable for emotional recovery.
There’s no need to rush yourself or to pretend to “get over it” for anyone else’s sake.
And if you need it, reaching out for support is a reasonable thing to do. You aren’t alone in this.
Am I having a miscarriage?
Article was originally published on Nov.
7, 2017 and updated on June 6, 2019.
It can be stressful when your period is later than expected. Although menstrual cycle length can vary, some people may worry that their late period is actually a very early miscarriage (also known as a spontaneous abortion).
Abortion
What to expect during an abortion
If you have access to a legal abortion, here is what to...
by Anna Druet
Miscarriage, or the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 weeks (1), is common. At least 1 in 3 pregnancies end in a miscarriage (2), though people do not always know that they were pregnant when miscarriage occurs. Sometimes the egg implants only for a short period of time, and then the pregnancy ends. Most people would not know they were pregnant in this scenario. About 1 in 5 clinically recognized pregnancies (pregnancies recognized with a positive pregnancy test), end in miscarriage (2, 3).
Miscarriages are most common in the first six weeks of pregnancy, becoming less likely as the pregnancy develops (2,3).
If a pregnancy loss happens, it’s most likely in the first trimester (the first 13 weeks by gestational age) (4).
When a miscarriage occurs before a person knows that they are pregnant, it may be difficult to tell the difference between a normal menstrual period and miscarriage.
Symptoms of both menstrual periods
and miscarriage can include (1, 4-7):If you are experiencing a
miscarriage, someone may also notice:Reduction in or disappearance of pregnancy symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or sore breasts (5)
Signs of being sick, like a fever (if the miscarriage is caused by an infection) (5,6)
If you get your period less than 2 weeks after your period is expected, it is difficult to know whether it is a late period or a miscarriage. Miscarriages in this time frame are not usually experienced with heavier or longer bleeding (7). People who miscarry in less than or equal to two weeks after an expected period are likely to experience bleeding similar to a period (7).
There may be about half a day more of bleeding than the typical period (7).
Download Clue to track your period and bleeding.
App StorePlay Store
It is unlikely that a single early miscarriage occurring before it’s even detected has implications for long-term fertility. Early miscarriages are common and many people who experience these types of miscarriages don’t know they miscarried at all.
Although miscarriages that happen around the time of a period don’t represent a threat to a person’s health, people may be concerned about their chance to have healthy pregnancies in the future. But people who miscarry, even later into pregnancy and multiple times, can go on to have healthy pregnancies in the future (2, 6, 8).
If you’re unsure about whether or not you might be pregnant and want to know if your bleeding is a miscarriage or a normal period, take a pregnancy test or visit your healthcare provider.
If you have a late period, are trying to get pregnant, or are worried you are pregnant, and you’re unsure if you should take a pregnancy test, consider your risk of pregnancy:
For people with typical cycles (the number of days between periods rarely varies by more than a couple days):You are at risk of pregnancy if you had unprotected penis-in-vagina sex or had a high risk of sperm touching your genitals. The risk varies over the course of your cycle. Find out here if you are unsure about how you can get pregnant.
Sperm exposure poses the highest risk of pregnancy from around the middle of the cycle to about 2 weeks before your anticipated period, because this is when most people ovulate. This is only true in general, and it might not be reflective of any given cycle, so you shouldn’t rely on this rough estimate for pregnancy prevention.
(Note that the ovulation day displayed in Clue is only an estimate — your actual day of ovulation might have different timing, which can vary cycle-to-cycle along with the start date of your period)
Sperm exposure towards the beginning or the end of the cycle in general poses less risk of pregnancy, because it’s less likely that a person ovulated close to or during those times.
Take a pregnancy test or contact your healthcare provider if your period is nine or more days late.
If you want to take a pregnancy test sooner, wait at least two weeks after your estimated ovulation day, or around when you expect to get your period. For the most accurate results, wait a few days after your expected period. Some pregnancy tests advertise that you can take them earlier than that, but the earlier you take a test the less accurate it is (9). It’s up to you if you want to take it sooner.
If you have an unpredictable cycle (you don’t know when your period is going to come, and the difference between your longest cycle and shortest cycle is more than 7–9 days):Unprotected sex or exposure of sperm on your genitals at most times represents a higher risk because it’s harder to estimate when in your cycle you were ovulating.
You can take a pregnancy test about two weeks after your last unprotected sexual encounter, though waiting a few days longer will help improve the accuracy of the results.
(We talk more about how pregnancy tests work here.)
If you are using an active form of natural birth control (fertility awareness-based methods or natural family planning) or are tracking fertility signs for body literacy, you will have a better idea of the timing of your ovulation and can use that to assess your risk of pregnancy.
(Remember, any form of unprotected sex at any time represents a risk of sexually transmitted infections)
If you know you are pregnant and begin bleeding:It is important to contact your healthcare provider. Bleeding during early pregnancy is common and isn’t necessarily a sign of a miscarriage (10), but it’s good to let them know what’s going on.
If you experience abnormal bleeding, severe pain from your pelvis to your shoulders, and are feeling weak or are fainting, you should seek medical care immediately (11)
These could be signs of an ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg attaches and grows somewhere other than the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube) (11).
Ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening and should be treated as medical emergencies.
Miscarriage
What to expect after a miscarriage
Miscarriage is a common pregnancy outcome, but that doesn’t make it any...
by Sarah Toler, DNP, CNM
How to tell the difference between a period and a miscarriageSometimes, it’s impossible to tell the difference in the symptoms between a late period and an early miscarriage. Taking a pregnancy test may tell you if you were pregnant, but it might not. The best way to prevent pregnancy is to use some form of birth control. This includes both hormonal birth control and non-hormonal birth control methods.
Download Clue to track your cycle or your pregnancy.
How to distinguish between menstruation and early miscarriage - explains the doctor
Health
Doctors say that early pregnancy loss is a fairly common phenomenon. At the same time, some women do not even suspect that they were pregnant, mistakenly taking a miscarriage for menstruation. However, it is important to distinguish between these two states. And here's how to do it.
Head of the department, obstetrician-gynecologist of the Maternity Hospital No. 1 (St. Petersburg)
— To begin with, let me remind you how conception occurs: after the egg leaves the ovary, it meets with the spermatozoon, after which the embryo is formed.
This process can occur in the abdominal cavity (directly near the ovary), in the fallopian tube or in the uterine cavity (much less often). Further, the embryo, under the influence of contractions of the fallopian tubes, moves to the uterine cavity and, under favorable circumstances, is introduced into the endometrium - the inner lining of the uterus.
The term early pregnancy loss may include the following types of reproductive failures:
-
a fertilized embryo that has not implanted into the endometrium in time.
In that case menstruation (and this is nothing more than rejection of the endometrium) comes on time and is no different from normal .
-
a fertilized embryo that implanted and was immediately rejected. In this case, when performing the analysis, the level of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) may increase slightly. Menstruation in terms of blood loss will not differ from normal, but will come with a delay of several days .
-
embryo that implanted but died and spontaneously detached. In this option, the level of hCG will be high. Probably, with ultrasound, we will even see a developing embryo. In this situation menstruation will be much more abundant, longer and will come with a significant delay (1-3 weeks) .
According to global statistics, every 7-10th pregnancy will be terminated before 12 weeks, which is 10-15% of all pregnancies. Most of them occur before 8 weeks of pregnancy. It is difficult to calculate the exact statistics of early losses, including pre-implantation losses, but there is evidence that about 60% of fertilized eggs will implant in the endometrium and develop into a normal pregnancy.
In modern medicine, spontaneous miscarriage does not require additional intervention methods: curettage of the uterine cavity, vacuum aspiration, etc. The cause of a single early pregnancy loss may remain unknown and not necessarily sought. And this means that it is allowed to plan conception in the next menstrual cycle.
NO! With repeated episodes of pregnancy loss, you should consult a doctor to find the cause of this pathology.
Expert
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How to identify a miscarriage: early signs, bleeding, pain0002 At least 15-20% of pregnant women experience early pregnancy loss.
Vera Ermakova
A miscarriage is a spontaneous termination of pregnancy that occurs before 22 weeks of gestation. At the same time, if a miscarriage occurred at a very early date, a woman may not even know that she was pregnant.
Contents of the article
Do not self-medicate! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.
According to a study published in 2015 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 41% of women who experience a miscarriage feel guilty about what happened. Meanwhile, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), at least half of miscarriages (pregnancy losses before 20 weeks) are due to chromosomal abnormalities that cannot be prevented. Nevertheless, given that up to 20% of pregnancies (this is only what can be estimated) end in miscarriages, it is worth knowing its early signs in order to consult a doctor in time.
Very heavy bleeding
Not all bleeding that a pregnant woman may experience is indicative of a miscarriage: for example, small spots of blood may appear when a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. In addition, the developing placenta can also cause bleeding. But if the color of the discharge is bright red and they themselves are very intense, you should immediately consult a doctor - this can be a dangerous sign.
Pink discharge and tissue clots
Not only blood can indicate the threat of miscarriage. It is worth paying attention to any discharge that you may encounter during pregnancy. Light pink vaginal fluid, which is also accompanied by the release of clots, is a very alarming symptom.
Pain and cramps
The cramps and cramps that many women experience during the premenstrual period or during menstruation are unpleasant, but in most cases they are not dangerous. But if you experience these sensations during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Cramps, pains and spasms can signal not only a miscarriage, but also an ectopic pregnancy, a deadly condition.
Pain in the lower back may indicate a threatened miscarriage
During pregnancy, even if it is normal, there is increased pressure on the back and especially on the lumbar region. Therefore, almost all pregnant women feel pain in this area and discomfort in this area, from slight to very strong. But since pain and cramps in the lumbar region can also warn of a miscarriage (and especially if they are accompanied by bleeding or abdominal pain), you should definitely tell your doctor about them.
