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Evidence LibraryPregnancy and prenatal testingEarly decisions
Evidence Library · Early decisions

Miscarriage, and what you are not told about it

Common, usually nobody’s fault, and often handled badly.

Early pregnancy loss is common. It is not usually caused by anything you did, and lifting, exercise, sex, stress and working do not cause it.

If it happens, there are three approaches: waiting for it to complete on its own, medication to help it complete, or a short procedure to empty the uterus. All three are reasonable and the choice is usually yours. Ask about all three rather than accepting the first one offered.

Go in forHeavy bleeding soaking a pad an hour, severe one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, or feeling faint. These can indicate an ectopic pregnancy, which is an emergency.

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More from Early pregnancy

This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.