Miscarriage
Alternate Names : Spontaneous Abortion, Complete Abortion
A miscarriage occurs when a woman is pregnant
and her womb expels the fetal tissue. It results from natural causes within the first 20 weeks of
pregnancy.
What is going on in the body?
A miscarriage takes place after the fetus and placenta stop growing. This makes
pregnancy hormone levels fall. The following symptoms of pregnancy may no longer appear:
breast tenderness
nausea
fatigue
A miscarriage starts when the womb begins to contract. This causes cramping and
discomfort. It may also cause vaginal spotting or bleeding. A miscarriage is complete when the contents
of the womb are expelled. When no fetal tissue remains, the cervix will
close. The uterus will shrink in size. The bleeding will slow and then stop.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
A fetus that fails to develop or is abnormal in some way is the most likely cause
of a miscarriage that occurs in the first trimester of
pregnancy.
Miscarriages in the second trimester are most often caused by factors linked to the
mother, such as:
an abnormal-shaped uterus
autoimmune disorders, in which
the woman's body creates antibodies to its own tissue, including fetal tissue
bacterial infections, such as the sexually transmitted disease
chlamydia
certain diseases and conditions, including diabetes
or hypothyroidism
cervical incompetence, a
condition in which the cervical opening from the womb does not stay closed through
the whole pregnancy
cocaine use
drinking liquids, such as coffee, or eating foods, such as chocolate, that contain caffeine
exposure to pesticides, chemicals,
or other toxins
noncancerous tumors in the uterus, which are also called
fibroids
hormonal disorders, such as a low level of the female hormone progesterone
polycystic ovary syndrome, a
condition in which abnormal hormone levels cause growths within the ovary
posttraumatic stress disorder, also called
PTSD, which may occur after a major traumatic event
TORCH infections in the
first trimester of pregnancy
Herbal remedies can
cause birth defects as well as a miscarriage. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant
women avoid all of the following unless recommended by their doctors:
dietary supplements
over-the-counter medicines
prescription medicines
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