If the miscarriage is complete and your uterus is empty, you probably won’t need further treatment.
Sometimes all the tissue doesn’t come out. If that happens, your doctor might do a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure. They’ll dilate your cervix and gently remove any remaining tissue. There are also medications you can take that cause any tissue left in your uterus to leave your body. This may be a better option if you want to avoid surgery.
If it’s later in the pregnancy and the fetus has died in the womb, the doctor will induce labor and delivery.
When the bleeding stops, you should be able to go back to your normal activities. If your cervix dilated on its own but you’re still pregnant, you could have a condition known as incompetent cervix. Your doctor might do a procedure to close it called cerclage.
If your blood type is Rh negative, the doctor may give you a blood product called Rh immune globulin (Rhogam). This prevents you from developing antibodies that could harm your baby or any future pregnancies.
You may get blood tests, genetic tests, or medication if you’ve had more than two miscarriages in a row (recurrent miscarriage). To diagnose this condition, your doctor might use tests like:
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Hysterosalpingogram, An X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes
- Hysteroscopy. The doctor uses a thin, telescope-like device inserted through your vagina and cervix to look inside your uterus
If you’ve had two miscarriages in a row, use a form of birth control and talk to your doctor about tests to find the cause