Miscarriage is the inability of the fetus to survive on its own in the womb of an expecting mother. It is one of the most common complications of pregnancy in the early stages. According to the National Institute of Health, in 50 percent of cases, spontaneous abortion takes place without the knowledge of the women. There are only 15 – 20% cases of miscarriages where the women are aware of her pregnancy. Only 8 % cases of this mishap are recorded clinically.
Threatened miscarriage is treated by nothing more specific than reassurance and follow-up ultrasound scans to check that everything is going well. Traditionally, bed rest was recommended, but doctors now know that this is no more beneficial than reassurance and demonstration to the mother, using ultrasound, that the pregnancy is continuing. Thus there is no need for you to be admitted to hospital or confined to bed if you have a threatened miscarriage, although it is sensible to avoid excessive physical stress.
A complete miscarriage can only be diagnosed after vaginal bleeding, which is usually associated with pain, and where there has been good evidence of a pregnancy, such as positive pregnancy tests or ultrasound confirmation of pregnancy, followed by the finding of an empty womb on ultrasound. The doctor will be careful to exclude an ectopic pregnancy, in which the womb is empty but a continuing pregnancy is present outside the womb, usually in the fallopian tube. The treatment of complete miscarriage is reassurance – that miscarriage is common, it may not happen again, nothing could have been done to prevent it, and no further action is needed.
Will I need an operation if I have a miscarriage?
In cases of incomplete miscarriage, blighted ovum and missed miscarriage, the pregnancy has ended and the treatment is to proceed to empty the womb either medically (with drugs) or surgically – a procedure known as ‘evacuation of the uterus’. It is important to ensure that your womb is empty, as dead tissue retained in the uterus can lead to bleeding and infection. Infection can cause you to become very ill, or even threaten your future fertility by damaging the fallopian tubes that carry the eggs from your ovaries to the womb.
Facts about Miscarriage Treatment
According to fertility experts, the first and foremost way to deal with this condition is not to allow it from happening. This is because as of now, there are no effective ways to prevent the miscarriage from happening. This calls for doing considerable about of research work from the expecting mother and her husband on this subject. Awareness of the vital causes and risk factors of this undesirable and prevalent condition of pregnancy goes a long way in leading a life of caution, especially in the first trimester. It is during this stage of childbirth when the possibility of spontaneous abortion is high.
Studies have found that in the cases of pregnancies from men belonging to the age group 25 – 29, the changes of miscarriage are 40% higher when compared to pregnancies from men under 25 years. The risk percentage increases in women as they get pregnant from men of a higher age group. There is a sharp decline in the possibility of this mishap after the 10th week of pregnancy.
Abnormalities in genes, uterine and hormones and rejection of the tissues are some of the uncontrollable causes of this condition. However, infection in the uterus is a preventable cause of pregnancy loss.
Consumption of caffeine more than 200 mg per day increases the risk of fetus loss. Exercise for 1.5 hours and more increases the risk by 10 %. 7 hours of exercise per week increased the risk to 200%.
Other risk factors of spontaneous abortion are uncontrolled blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, Polycystic ovary syndrome, autoimmune diseases, illnesses like rubella and Chlamydia, use of tobacco, cocaine, antidepressants, exposure to cigarette smoke and age of the mother.
As per research studies, these risks can be reduced by using the supplement dehydroepiandrosterone. Morning sickness is the only factor which naturally reduces the risk of miscarriage.
Bed rest and watchful waiting for two to six weeks are sufficient to treat pregnancy loss in 5 – 80 percent of cases. Enough care should be taken to reduce the risks of ectopic pregnancy as well.
Intake of the medicine misoprostol, medically treats the condition in 95 percent of cases. Surgical treatment like dilation and evacuation is the fastest way of treating miscarriage which reduces the pain involved in pregnancy loss. But, it comes with its own share of complications like a trauma to the cervix.
Owing to this reason, women who want to bear a child in the near future should restrain to take up surgical treatment. The first line of treatment option should be as natural as possible.
