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Threatened Miscarriage

Authors:
  • Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Publication Type:

Condition

Threatened Miscarriage

(Threatened Abortion; Threatened Pregnancy Loss)

Definition

Threatened miscarriage is bleeding from the vagina and symptoms that may mean a higher risk of miscarriage. It happens during the first trimester (13 weeks) of pregnancy. Not everyone who has bleeding in early pregnancy will miscarry.

Fetus in First Trimester. DZ00042_96472_1_cropped.jpeg

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Nucleus imagehttp://services.epnet.com/getimage.aspx?imageiid=61996199DZ00042_96472_1_cropped.jpegNULLjpegDZ00042_96472_1_croppedDZ00042_96472_1_cropped.jpeg\\hgfiler01a\intellect\images\DZ00042_96472_1_cropped.jpegNULL32NULL2006-01-17325151Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

Possible causes of bleeding include:

  • Embryo is implanting
  • Infection
  • Irritation that may occur after sex
  • Miscarriage
  • The baby grows outside the uterus—ectopic pregnancy
  • Molar pregnancy—a rare growth in the uterus

Risk Factors

Things that may increase a the risk of threatened miscarriage are:

  • Infection
  • Trauma
  • Certain medicines
  • Older age

Symptoms

The main symptom is bleeding during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Bleeding may be light or heavy. There may also be cramping.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about symptoms and past health. A physical exam will be done. Tests may be done to look for a cause. They may include:

Ultrasound and blood tests may need to be done again after a week or two to check on the pregnancy.

Treatment

For many women, no treatment is needed. If needed, treatment may include:

  • Medicine to treat some causes. This may include progesterone, a hormone that supports a pregnancy.
  • Rho immune globulin for women with Rh-negative blood. This can stop the body from making antibodies against the fetus' blood.

Prevention

It is not always possible to prevent threatened miscarriage. Prenatal care may help find and treat problems early.

RESOURCES:

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

References

  • Bleeding during pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/bleeding-during-pregnancy.
  • Early pregnancy bleeding. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/early-pregnancy-bleeding.
  • Hendriks, E., MacNaughton, H., et al. First trimester bleeding: evaluation and management. American Family Physician, 2019; 99(3): 166-174.
  • Wahabi, H.A., Fayed, A.A., et al. Progestogen for treating threatened miscarriage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2018; 8: CD005943.

Contributors

  • Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG
Last Updated:
2023-06-01

(C) Copyright 2023 EBSCO Information Services

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.