{"id":29601,"date":"2026-01-26T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T08:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=29601"},"modified":"2026-01-26T09:43:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T09:43:01","slug":"everything-about-miscarriages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/pregnancy\/everything-about-miscarriages\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about missed miscarriages"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missed miscarriages are spontaneous events that mark the premature end of a pregnancy that may already have been deeply invested in. Unfortunately, they remain a topic that is barely talked about, with its share of unknowns, so here is some information to help you better understand them and cope with them if needed. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Missed miscarriages<\/strong>: let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Missed miscarriages: <\/b><b>what are they?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>This is a spontaneous end of an ongoing pregnancy<\/strong>. In other words, for one of the reasons we will discuss later, the pregnancy that began in the uterus will stop developing naturally.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Missed miscarriages: at what stage of pregnancy?<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Early missed miscarriages<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: they occur before the 14th week of amenorrhea (14 weeks without a period or 12 weeks of pregnancy). Some may even go unnoticed, since they happen in the very first days and may be mistaken for a slightly late period. This is therefore a phenomenon considered common in medicine, but it also means that the vast majority of pregnancies continue normally!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Late missed miscarriages<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: much rarer (less than 1% of pregnancies), they occur between the 14th and the 22nd week of amenorrhea (weeks without a period). Beyond 22 weeks, we no longer speak of miscarriage but of preterm birth to describe the expulsion of the fetus.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why do they happen, and can they be prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, missed miscarriages are the result of natural processes that cannot be controlled. Here are a few reasons that may be at the origin of missed miscarriages: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Abnormalities in embryo development<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> account for most causes of missed miscarriage<\/strong>: in the great genetic lottery, certain incidents occur at key stages of embryo formation, and if it is not viable, it will naturally stop developing. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These abnormalities may be linked to chromosomal malformations that are incompatible with continuing the pregnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>An ectopic pregnancy <\/strong><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this pregnancy is automatically not viable. It requires urgent care when it does not end spontaneously and calls for close medical monitoring.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>There is also the particular case of a \u201cblighted ovum\u201d<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: the membranes and placenta develop, but no embryo has formed. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy hormones<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are therefore indeed present (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a positive test<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> felt), but unfortunately the pregnancy will not progress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Factors related to your health<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can also affect how a pregnancy progresses: poorly controlled pre-existing chronic diseases (such as diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hypothyroidism, clotting disorders, hormonal issues) or abnormalities of the uterus and cervix. In that case, it is important to plan appropriate medical follow-up beforehand to stabilize the condition and prepare for pregnancy under the best possible conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Finally, certain external factors<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are associated with an increased risk of missed miscarriage: the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, for example (specialized teams exist for these issues\u2014do not hesitate to contact them if you feel you are struggling with them). This is also the case with excessive caffeine\/theine (keep the pleasure of your morning coffee if you really need it, but try to cut back during the day, and switch to herbal tea in the evening!). Good to know: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hormonal contraception, such as the pill, does not increase the risk of a later miscarriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>On the other hand, contrary to certain common beliefs, regular, appropriate physical activity<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(avoid weightlifting and climbing Mont Blanc, for example) is associated with a decreased risk of miscarriage. If you\u2019re used to it, don\u2019t deprive yourself of your weekly sessions! And if exercise wasn\u2019t a regular part of your routine: walk! This habit is very beneficial throughout pregnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good to know: as menopause approaches, the risk of missed miscarriage naturally increases due to a decline in egg quality.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The (rare) cases of recurrent missed miscarriages<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chance, sometimes harsh, can strike the same body several times without any clear explanation. However, <strong>beyond 3 missed miscarriages<\/strong>, it is recommended to look for a possible cause behind these sad repetitions.<strong> Is there a condition that could explain these recurrences? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several blood tests and examinations will be carried out to find answers and offer you appropriate care. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any questions on the topic, feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.adjust.com\/1pblulz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download the May app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find plenty of resources to support you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/beautiful-woman-holding-poppy-flower-in-sunset-lig-2026-01-08-23-59-52-utc.webp\" alt=\"Everything you need to know about missed miscarriages - May Health App\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/beautiful-woman-holding-poppy-flower-in-sunset-lig-2026-01-08-23-59-52-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/beautiful-woman-holding-poppy-flower-in-sunset-lig-2026-01-08-23-59-52-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/beautiful-woman-holding-poppy-flower-in-sunset-lig-2026-01-08-23-59-52-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to recognize a miscarriage?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The signs of a miscarriage can be confusing, as they sometimes overlap with normal early-pregnancy symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Symptoms of miscarriage<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The well-known early pregnancy symptoms vary greatly from one woman to another, so it is difficult to rely on them completely. However, the symptoms most commonly described in a missed miscarriage are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Bleeding<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: light or heavy, red, pink, or brown, watery or with clots (small masses of coagulated blood).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Watch out for hemorrhage:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the event of heavy bleeding (= a pad quickly soaked and needing to be changed several times within 30 minutes): have someone accompany you to the emergency room or contact emergency services so you can be taken there quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Pelvic pain<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reflecting uterine contractions, which may feel similar to the pain sometimes experienced during your period.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Note that these symptoms can also occur during the normal course of pregnancy<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and likewise some miscarriages happen silently\u2026 so how can you tell, and what test can reassure you\u2014or unfortunately reveal that the pregnancy has stopped?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>How missed miscarriages are diagnosed<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A transvaginal ultrasound (an ultrasound performed using a probe inserted into the vagina) makes it possible to locate a pregnancy in the uterus, date it, and detect embryonic cardiac activity as early as the first weeks\u2014and therefore its absence if applicable. Thanks to this examination, repeated over several days if needed, we can <strong>determine whether there is an ongoing pregnancy and whether it is developing or not.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is doubt on this ultrasound, especially if the pregnancy is still in its very early stages, we can also compare <strong>the progression of a pregnancy hormone<\/strong> (called beta-hCG) through a series of blood tests done 48 hours apart, to determine whether the pregnancy is continuing or not. The tests should be done at the same laboratory for better reliability of results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Good to know<\/strong><b>: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a transvaginal ultrasound makes it possible to measure the cervix and visualize the uterus and ovaries. It is performed using an elongated, rounded probe with a diameter of less than 2 cm, covered with a latex sheath similar to a condom and coated with ultrasound gel (cold!). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will be positioned lying down or slightly reclined, with knees bent, and the midwife or gynecologist will gently insert the probe into the vagina and move it slightly to obtain images of the uterus from different angles. This procedure obviously requires your agreement and consent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29580\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-2026-01-07-06-01-35-utc.webp\" alt=\"Everything you need to know about missed miscarriages - May Health App\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-2026-01-07-06-01-35-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-2026-01-07-06-01-35-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/autumn-2026-01-07-06-01-35-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What happens when you experience a missed miscarriage?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a miscarriage is diagnosed, appropriate medical care may be offered to ensure your safety, limit complications, and support you as best as possible physically and emotionally. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Missed miscarriage: what medical management?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A miscarriage can happen spontaneously. In that case, the pregnancy ends on its own, and you may experience uterine contractions and bleeding that can be more or less heavy. It is recommended to have an ultrasound afterward to check that the uterus is empty and that the miscarriage is complete.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If an ultrasound diagnoses that a pregnancy has stopped developing early on, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you may be offered to wait for the expulsion to happen spontaneously (but <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this can take time and may still require an intervention), so two options may be offered:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Surgical treatment<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: just like a voluntary termination of pregnancy (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">abortion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), it consists of suctioning the gestational sac from the uterus. This procedure takes place in the operating room under local or general anesthesia. In the vast majority of cases, it does not require hospitalization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Medication treatment<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: given <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">orally or<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vaginally, it aims to trigger uterine contractions to expel the gestational sac. A follow-up ultrasound about ten days later checks that the miscarriage is complete. If it is not, one of these two methods may be offered again.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether your miscarriage happened spontaneously or required treatment, do not hesitate to ask for pain relief, and to request medical leave afterward if you feel you need it. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> care is still far too limited and sometimes traumatic for you. Let\u2019s hope progress is rapid and significant in the months and years ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good to know: the law of July 7, 2023, among other measures, introduced sick leave with no waiting period for women who have experienced a missed miscarriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One reassuring point: <\/span><strong>the risks of these situations remain minimal, and future fertility is unchanged (no increased risk of infertility)<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Missed miscarriages can, however, leave a psychological mark, because a pregnancy that stops\u2014even early on\u2014is never trivial. We recommend that you lean on someone you trust so you are not alone with the sensations and feelings you may experience. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not hesitate to talk about it, because it is a loss to grieve, and like any loss, it sometimes takes time. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Missed miscarriages: <\/b><b>how to cope afterward?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The direct physical <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consequences <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of a missed miscarriage are very often minimal. If you are considering a new pregnancy project immediately afterward, medical professionals generally encourage you to go ahead.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Even after a missed miscarriage, ovulation usually returns quickly.<\/span><strong> There is no specific waiting period as such\u2014it\u2019s mostly when you feel ready. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>However, the psychological impact of such an experience is not insignificant:<\/strong> depression and anxiety are frequently described symptoms, and addressing this aspect seems essential.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes resuming intercourse can also be complicated\u2014something happened in your body, and it\u2019s normal to feel apprehensive about these steps. Don\u2019t hesitate to talk about it; midwives or doctors who specialize in sexology can help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many of you, this is grieving a projection\u2014often a pregnancy that is invisible to others\u2014making it harder to confide in people. <strong>You may go through many feelings, all legitimate, whether apathy, anger, confusion, deep sadness, or isolation<\/strong>. Do not remain alone with these feelings:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Surround yourself<\/strong> in particular with a medical and allied-health team you trust (OB-GYN, midwife, psychologists) to ensure follow-up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Talk<\/strong> with your partner about your own experiences. People sometimes process things on different timelines; we don\u2019t all move forward at the same pace, and what feels \u201cin the past\u201d for one person isn\u2019t always for the other.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Don\u2019t be afraid to confide in those around you<\/strong>. You may find a supportive ear in a friend who has been through the same thing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your close circle feels too awkward or you feel uncomfortable confiding in them, <strong>there are also support groups<\/strong>. The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agapa association<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in particular supports patients who have experienced a missed miscarriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, <strong>more and more women are sharing their stories<\/strong> on social media or through podcasts, helping to break the silence that traditionally surrounds these losses. For example, you can look at<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> @mespresquesriens<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or listen to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> @aurevoir.podcast<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A word from Anna Colombi\u00e8s, psychologist<\/strong><b>: <\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere are many types of follow-up care that can help you cope with a missed miscarriage. You can also reach out to the perinatal networks in your region to obtain the names of professionals specialized in this area.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missed miscarriages are common events\u2014often unpredictable and deeply challenging, both physically and emotionally. Every experience is unique and valid, and no path to healing looks the same. <strong>Getting medical and psychological support<\/strong>, surrounding yourself with others, and daring to talk about it are all keys to getting through this ordeal and, when the time comes, looking ahead again with confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>And finally<\/strong>: take care of yourself and your body, which is where you will need to rebuild full confidence. And don\u2019t hesitate to express your pain if it helps: write, draw, dance, make small and big plans\u2014in short, move forward <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but at your own pace!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>**<\/p>\n<p>Photo credits: Sonyachny | Mgrsanko<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Missed miscarriages are spontaneous events that mark the premature end of a pregnancy that may already have been deeply invested in. Unfortunately, they remain a topic that is barely talked about, with its share of unknowns, so here is some information to help you better understand them and cope with them if needed. Missed miscarriages: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":10571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-29601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-pregnancy-psychology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29601"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29603,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29601\/revisions\/29603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}