Does Spotting Mean
I’m Having a Miscarriage?

Types of Miscarriage

Doctors categorize miscarriages into distinct types, including:

• Threatened Miscarriage – Women often show signs of miscarriage before it occurs, including spotting and abdominal pain. However, these signs don’t always indicate miscarriage.
• Complete Miscarriage – Complete miscarriage occurs when all pregnancy tissue is expelled from the body. Complete miscarriage causes prolonged vaginal bleeding and significant cramping, similar to menstrual pain.
• Incomplete Miscarriage – Unlike complete miscarriage, incomplete miscarriage can leave some pregnancy tissues behind. In this case, you may need a procedure called dilatation of the cervix and curettage of the uterus to remove the remaining tissue.
• Blighted Ovum – Also known as anembryonic pregnancy, blighted ovum occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but doesn’t develop into an embryo. Blighted ovum causes miscarriages to occur during the first trimester.
• Septic Miscarriage – A uterine infection can also result in miscarriage. In this case, timely medical care is crucial to treat the infection before it causes further health effects.

Some women also experience repeated pregnancy issues, which is known as recurrent miscarriage. Recurrent miscarriage is defined as having three or more miscarriages in a row. In this case, women are advised to speak with a fertility specialist.

Symptoms of Miscarriage

In addition to spotting and bleeding, miscarriage can also be identified by other symptoms. Signs to watch for include:

• Vaginal discharge
• Severe cramping and pain in the lower abdomen
• Expelling vaginal tissues
• Lack of pregnancy symptoms (such as breast tenderness, nausea, and vomiting)
• Feeling dizzy or faint

These symptoms all require immediate evaluation by a medical professional specializing in obstetric care.

Causes of Early Miscarriage

The majority of miscarriages occur during the first trimester, or before the 12^th week of pregnancy. As for specific causes, doctors aren’t sure why some women miscarry. However, certain factors can increase the chance of experiencing one, including:

• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Infections
• Alcohol use
• Cancer treatments
• Age (older women have a greater risk of miscarriage)
• Certain diseases
• Smoking
• Hormonal imbalance
• Malnutrition

Not all miscarriages can be prevented. However, leading a healthy lifestyle and following instructions provided by your OB-GYN can greatly reduce your risk of this and other pregnancy complications.