A slight delay, a positive pregnancy test and beginning bleeding from the vagina - this is an approximate picture of an early miscarriage. It happens that a woman does not even suspect that she was pregnant and believes that she has simply begun her next menstruation. Sometimes you can only understand whether there was a miscarriage or menstruation if you donate blood for the hCG hormone on one of the first days of bleeding: if an increased amount is detected, then there was still a pregnancy.

When can termination of pregnancy occur?

Many who do not know what a miscarriage looks like are accustomed to thinking that spontaneous abortion can only occur in the first days after pregnancy, but this is not entirely true. Termination of pregnancy for physiological reasons can occur at any stage; if this happens after 22 weeks, then doctors will call this case premature birth. But in the first days of the delay, the fertilized egg is too small to distinguish it from ordinary clots - pieces of the endometrium. Usually, information about what an early miscarriage looks like is of interest to those who have had it in the first few weeks.

So, only after the fifth week of pregnancy can you understand what an early miscarriage looks like and distinguish between menstruation. Usually at this time the girl already knows about the onset of pregnancy and any pain localized in the lower abdomen, and even more so bloody discharge from the vagina, should frighten her. In this situation, it is better to call an ambulance and do not refuse hospitalization, so as not to see with your own eyes what an early miscarriage looks like.

In some cases, only in a hospital setting can the baby be saved. So, if you feel intense, sometimes cramping, painful sensations in the lower abdomen, which in some people can radiate to the lower back, and blood is released from the genital tract, then this is an incipient miscarriage. At home, spontaneous abortion can end even in a couple of hours: the fertilized egg will come out of the uterus. At a period of about 5-6 weeks, it is approximately the size of a quail egg, the color varies from flesh to gray, with streaks of blood. After just a couple of weeks, the fertilized egg is much larger; if it comes out completely, it has an elongated oval shape, often resembling a deflated balloon. True, there is little chance that a complete miscarriage will occur with the expulsion of all membranes from the uterus.

Spontaneous interruption: action tactics

If you have already realized that you have lost your baby and found out what an early miscarriage looks like, you need to seek help from the hospital. After all, you cannot be sure that all the membranes of the fertilized egg have come out and there is nothing left in the uterus. This can only be checked using ultrasound. Any tissue remaining in the uterine cavity can cause inflammatory processes, decay of foreign tissue and, as a result, lead to intoxication of the woman’s body. In addition, as a result of complete detachment of the ovum, bleeding may occur. This can cause the removal of the uterus or, in case of untimely assistance, lead to the death of a woman. If any problems are found in the gynecology department, the uterine cavity is cleaned: the procedure for carrying it out resembles an abortion.

Menstruation is not the most pleasant period for a woman, but most of all, its beginning upsets those who passionately dream of becoming pregnant. However, bleeding is not always due to the usual procedure for endometrial rejection, sometimes it accompanies the termination of a barely begun pregnancy. You can find out for sure whether a miscarriage or menstruation provoked spotting. There are several methods for this.

Menstruation and miscarriage are different physiological processes, but they are accompanied by similar symptoms.

Menstrual bleeding is part of the natural female cycle. Every month the body prepares to conceive a child; this process is controlled by hormones. The internal cavity of the uterus is lined with a special one designed to secure the fertilized egg and subsequently nourish the embryo. If fertilization of the egg does not occur (or there is no ovulation), the endometrium dies and is removed from the uterus along with the remnants of small blood vessels formed during the cycle. Outwardly, it looks like bloody discharge from the vagina, and is often accompanied by pain. This process is called menstruation (or menstruation).

Miscarriage is a term that refers to the spontaneous termination of pregnancy in the early stages (before 22 weeks). If conception occurred recently, then externally, fetal rejection is almost no different from normal menstruation.

It is also accompanied by pain and bleeding. The fertilized egg is still too small to be seen among the blood and clots.

Miscarriage occurs for various reasons, for successful conception and gestation, they must be identified and eliminated.

There are practically no visual differences between early miscarriage and menstruation, but methods for recognizing them still exist.

The difference between miscarriage and menstruation

External signs by which the true cause of bleeding can be assumed are rather arbitrary:

1. A delay in menstruation can be caused by both the onset of pregnancy and hormonal failure.
2. Bleeding in case of miscarriage is longer and more abundant.
3. An unusual color or smell of blood, the presence of clots may indicate that a miscarriage has occurred. During menstruation, these signs are not observed.
4. Menstruation and miscarriage differ in the nature of pain. With spontaneous abortion, discomfort can resemble contractions, give to the lower back. Menstruation is often accompanied by.

Such symptoms do not allow you to reliably determine whether menstruation or miscarriage caused spotting. To find out exactly, other methods will be required.

How to find out if a miscarriage has occurred

By external symptoms, it is almost impossible to distinguish spontaneous abortion from menstruation, especially if it occurred at a very early date. Ultrasound examination in this case is also uninformative - for the device these processes look the same. The size of the fertilized egg at this period is still too small and does not allow it to be seen.

Determining whether a miscarriage or menstruation is the cause of bleeding is available thanks to the development of laboratory diagnostics.

There is a sign that allows you to find out with a high degree of certainty whether there was a pregnancy. It is indicated by the presence of a special hormone in a woman’s blood and urine – human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

It is on its detection that the action of all tests is based - the second strip appears if there is a sufficient concentration of this substance in the urine.

The hCG hormone begins to be produced approximately a week after implantation of a fertilized egg into the endometrium, its content in the blood rapidly increases until 11-12 weeks, and then begins to decrease. A high concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s blood and urine persists for several days after a miscarriage. This is what makes it possible to distinguish it from menstruation.

Therefore, the most accessible way to recognize an early miscarriage is to take a pregnancy test. When the bleeding is just menstruation, only one line will appear. And if it is caused by spontaneous abortion, the second one will be clearly or faintly visible.

A more reliable method is to determine hCG using a special blood test. A reliable result can be obtained within about a week after the start of bleeding. After a miscarriage, the level of the hormone decreases, and after a few days it is already difficult to detect.

If your period is late, it makes sense to take a test right away. Modern means detect an “interesting situation” on the very first day of delay. If the result is positive, if bleeding begins, it will be clear that the cause is not due to menstruation. Knowing this, you can promptly seek medical help.

Besides, One of the ways to recognize conception is to keep a graph of indicators. In the case of fertilization of the egg, the value increases noticeably, which also makes it possible with some degree of confidence to distinguish an interrupted pregnancy from menstruation in the event of bleeding.

Symptoms and causes of early miscarriage

According to statistics, every woman experiences an early miscarriage at least once during her life, mistaking it for normal menstruation. The symptoms and signs of these processes are almost identical. The reasons for terminating a pregnancy that has just begun are different:

• infectious and inflammatory diseases (gynecological or general);
• hormonal disorders;
• Rh conflict and other immunological factors;
• stress;
• improper fixation of the embryo in the uterus;
• taking medications, including herbal ones;
• genetic abnormalities in fetal development;
• bad habits, unhealthy diet, coffee abuse;
• sexual contact, trauma;
• intoxication;
• overweight or underweight;
• insufficient restoration of the uterus and the body as a whole after a previous birth, abortion or miscarriage.

Fetal rejection in the first weeks after conception usually does not pose a health threat, but there are exceptions.

No delay

If menstruation began exactly on time, there is a high probability of spontaneous abortion. You can understand that bleeding is the beginning of a miscarriage by a number of signs:

• severe cramping pain radiating to the lower back;
• brown color of blood, abundance;
• positive pregnancy test.

In this case, even if bleeding began without delay, you should consult a doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis and the necessary medical care.

During menstruation

Fetal loss may progress like a normal period. It is especially difficult to feel the difference if menstruation is heavy, painful and accompanied by the release of blood clots.

If you have the slightest suspicion of other causes of bleeding, you should consult a doctor. A miscarriage (even at a very early stage) poses a danger to a woman’s reproductive health and requires rehabilitation under the supervision of a specialist.

What to do if symptoms appear

If a woman is sure that she is pregnant, or suspects this with a high degree of probability, she needs to be especially attentive to the symptoms. Spontaneous abortion does not happen instantly; the process takes some time. Therefore, if you go to a medical facility at the first signs (pain, bleeding), there is a chance to save the embryo.

In addition, if there is a threat of fetal loss, it is very important to follow the following recommendations:

• avoid physical activity, heavy lifting;
• If possible, maintain bed rest;
• refuse sexual contacts;
• stay calm, avoid stress.

As a rule, if there is a threat of fetal rejection, hospitalization is recommended. In a hospital setting, the necessary examinations will be promptly carried out and measures will be taken to prevent miscarriage. If it is not possible to maintain the pregnancy, the doctor will be able to monitor the woman’s condition for fragments of the fetus and endometrium.

At home, these particles can remain inside and lead to serious inflammation - this is possible with spontaneous abortion.

Recovery after a miscarriage: how to survive it

If a miscarriage was diagnosed in the early stages of pregnancy, this is not a death sentence. Most women recover successfully after a spontaneous abortion and retain the ability to bear and give birth to healthy children. This is possible under the guidance of an experienced doctor.

Rehabilitation includes:

1. A thorough examination, identification and treatment of diseases that could lead to a miscarriage. This applies to diseases of the reproductive system and general health problems.
2. Strict control of one’s own condition on the part of the woman. If unusual vaginal discharge appears during or after treatment, as well as other symptoms, do not postpone a visit to the gynecologist.
3. Establishing a proper lifestyle, work and rest schedule, and physical activity.
4. Proper and balanced nutrition.
5. Calmness and positive attitude. Confidence in success is very important.

Sanatorium-resort treatment in special medical institutions will be of great benefit for restoring health and reproductive function.

Early miscarriage is common, but this is not a reason to ignore the problem. It is necessary to find out what is the cause of spontaneous abortion and eliminate it. An experienced gynecologist can help with this.

About 15% of pregnancies end in the loss of the child; in some cases, the woman never finds out that she was pregnant, because she mistakes the bleeding that occurs during a miscarriage for menstruation, especially if they coincide in time. Knowing the symptoms of spontaneous abortion, you can seek help in time and save the life of the child.

Symptoms of miscarriage

You can find out about pregnancy using a test at least in the third week, when your period should begin. Before this, a woman can only guess about her condition. But the time of onset of menstruation is considered the most dangerous for pregnancy; it is during this period that a miscarriage can occur in the early stages. A woman, being pregnant, may perceive spotting as the beginning of her period, but in fact these will be the first signs of a miscarriage.

To distinguish menstruation from spontaneous abortion, you need to know the symptoms of a possible abortion, namely:

1. Bloody discharge, the appearance of which does not coincide with the period of menstruation. This may include spotting mixed with blood, bleeding, blood clots mixed with tissue. In any case, you need to consult a doctor who, using an ultrasound, can determine the cause.
2. Severe pain in the lower back.
3. Pain and cramping in the lower abdomen.

There are cases when the fetus freezes in the womb and does not open bleeding. A frozen pregnancy is not accompanied by pain and discharge, because the fetus is not rejected. This condition can threaten the life of a woman, because the contents of the uterus become infected, and if no action is taken, then blood poisoning will occur and the woman will die. Only ultrasound will help to find out about the death of the fetus.

In some cases, with a frozen pregnancy, fetal rejection still occurs.

Then the following symptoms appear:

• vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, their color and quantity may change;
• severe pain and cramps in the lower abdomen;
• fever and high temperature.

Very often these symptoms are accompanied by heavy bleeding.

There is also such a thing as the threat of miscarriage. This diagnosis is made when rejection and delivery of the fetus has not yet occurred, but there is a high probability of this. Usually the threat of losing a child appears with the tone of the uterus.

You can distinguish the threat from the upcoming menstruation by the following symptoms: cramping pains in the lower abdomen in the middle of the cycle or with a delay in menstruation, which are accompanied by brown or bloody discharge.

In the early stages, spontaneous abortion may go unnoticed if the woman's uterus is completely open. In this case, menstruation simply begins with a delay, they become plentiful, accompanied by severe pain in the lower abdomen and lower back.

Every woman values ​​​​her pregnancy, so any pain or specific discharge from the genital tract should alert her.

Methods for determining miscarriage

On your own, it is sometimes very difficult to understand whether menstruation has begun or there is a threat of losing a child. The woman considers herself pregnant, the delay is about a week and then the bleeding begins. How to understand what it is?

In such cases, it is impossible to do without diagnostics and examination, because if a miscarriage occurred in the first days of the delay, it is impossible to distinguish it from menstruation on your own.

With the help of the following medical procedures, you can determine whether it is menstruation or a miscarriage:

If a pregnant woman develops symptoms of a threatened abortion, she can be examined by a gynecologist. The doctor will see the opening of the cervix and confirm or refute the pregnant woman’s fears. If the cervix is ​​closed, but there is bleeding, then this indicates a threat; if the cervix is ​​open, then the pregnancy cannot be maintained.

You can take a pregnancy test at home, because a pregnant woman’s urine also contains hCG. If two lines appear on the test and the woman begins to bleed, she should immediately call an ambulance to maintain the pregnancy.

If the second line is faintly visible on the test, you need to buy a test from another company and repeat the procedure again.

Unfortunately, the statistics are very sad; every eighth pregnancy ends in the loss of a child before 8 weeks. The risk of complications in women who have lost a child at an early stage is much lower than at a later stage.

To prevent complications and loss of the child, it is best to adhere to the following recommendations, especially for women diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage:

If a woman is planning her pregnancy, then if her period is delayed by at least one day, she should take a test to know for sure whether she is pregnant or not. In this case, if bloody discharge appears, she should immediately seek medical help.

Pregnancy is a long-awaited event for every woman. But sometimes, with a long delay, bleeding may appear. How to determine the nature of such bleeding? Normal menstruation or miscarriage in the first months of pregnancy? It is necessary to understand the differences between these processes.

Menstruation after a long delay may be a miscarriage

The difference between miscarriage and menstruation

According to statistics, about 13% of women, unaware of pregnancy, lose a child in the first weeks after conception. A miscarriage is an interruption of pregnancy within 6 months of pregnancy that occurs spontaneously. Having babies after 22 weeks of pregnancy means premature birth. In this case, the baby can still be saved. The most dangerous period is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.. But sometimes spontaneous miscarriage is possible immediately after conception and fertilization. Then the woman has no idea about the interesting situation, continuing to live an ordinary life.

It is very difficult to independently determine whether a miscarriage has occurred or not. Especially if the bleeding began exactly at the scheduled time of menstruation. If the delay occurs for a couple of days, then we can already talk about successful fertilization of the egg and spontaneous abortion. In this case, menstruation occurs with severe pain, and the discharge becomes more abundant. The duration also often increases. In this case, the color of menstruation becomes brighter (scarlet, sometimes brown). After an early miscarriage, blood clots (remnants of the fertilized egg) are often present in the discharge. But the woman’s condition remains satisfactory, and she has no reason to visit a gynecologist.

With spontaneous abortion, pain may appear in the lower abdomen, which often radiates to the lumbar region. There are cramping aching pains, deterioration of health, weakness, nausea, dizziness. The presence of such symptoms is not at all necessary, but if they appear, it is better to consult a doctor immediately.

The appearance of any suspicious vaginal discharge (especially red and brown) is an alarm bell for any woman. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner and prescribe supportive medications, you can save your pregnancy. And also reduce the risk of developing inflammatory processes in the uterus.

The onset of a miscarriage is associated with the unpreparedness of the female body to bear a healthy child. Nature provides natural selection, and if in this case the fetus is not viable, then spontaneous rejection of the embryo begins.

In the first weeks after conception, a miscarriage is similar to a normal period.

How to determine a miscarriage

Outwardly, it is almost impossible to distinguish between menstruation and miscarriage, especially if there is a delay of several days. An ultrasound at such a time will be uninformative. The fertilized egg (or its remains) is too small for such a device. When examined, the gynecologist also cannot say with certainty whether there was a pregnancy. Both at the beginning of menstruation and with successful fertilization, the uterus slightly increases in size, which does not allow us to accurately determine the cause of the bleeding.

To determine a possible pregnancy, you can use two alternative methods: a blood test for the level of the “pregnancy” hormone and changes in the basal temperature chart during the menstrual cycle.

When a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine cavity, a woman’s body begins to produce a certain hormone - chronic human gonadotropin. Pregnancy tests work when the value of this indicator increases. In the first weeks, the level of hCG is quite low, and it is almost impossible to determine it by urine analysis. A blood test is used to diagnose pregnancy. Even after a spontaneous miscarriage, hCG in the blood remains elevated for another 10 days. And based on the test results, you can find out whether conception has occurred.

Some women measure their basal temperature during the menstrual cycle for several months in a row to ensure successful fertilization. Using the parameter graph, you can find out whether conception has occurred and whether a miscarriage has occurred. The temperature values ​​during fertilization of the egg change significantly, so by comparing the previous graphs, we can conclude whether there was an interruption. During pregnancy, basal temperature rises in the last phase of the menstrual cycle.

Temperature fluctuations will help determine whether there has been a miscarriage

Causes of miscarriage

It is not always only the presence of diseases and pathologies that leads to termination of pregnancy. There are several risk factors:

• unpreparedness of the body for pregnancy;
• hereditary factor;
• excessive physical activity;
• diseases of the female organs;
• previous abortions;
• hormonal imbalance.

There may be even more reasons for miscarriage; no one knows how a particular female body will react to the onset of pregnancy. According to statistics, every woman has had a spontaneous abortion once in her life. Moreover, most of them did not even know about their interesting position.

Every woman should understand the differences between regular menstruation and spontaneous miscarriage. In a natural abortion, particles of the fetal egg may remain in the endometrium of the uterus. And their untimely removal threatens the development of an inflammatory process and serious complications for the woman. But with careful monitoring by a gynecologist, the risk of developing pathologies is minimal. Most women who experience a miscarriage successfully carry and give birth to healthy children in the future. Having figured out the reasons for the termination of pregnancy, assessing the general condition of the body, in a few months it will be possible to start a new planning for the baby.

1 6 394 0

Pregnancy is perhaps one of the most wonderful periods in a woman’s life. A tiny happiness is born under the heart, and the expectant mother is looking forward to when these nine months of waiting will pass, so that she can finally see and tightly hug her dearest little person.

Unfortunately, not all pregnancies go well. About a quarter of them are interrupted in the first weeks, and the fetus does not have time to survive until the moment when modern medicine is able to save it. As a rule, these are embryos and fetuses up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Spontaneous abortion, when the body of the expectant mother itself terminates the pregnancy, is usually called a miscarriage. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this happens quite often when a woman does not yet suspect that she is pregnant. There is a delay in menstruation, which we usually associate with stress, changes in weather, use of antibiotics, etc.

The reasons for miscarriage can be different. We cannot influence some of them, these include the age of the pregnant woman, genetic characteristics, and lack of hormonal balance. We can control some reasons - diet, environmental ecology, lifestyle, physical activity, previous abortions, etc.

The main symptoms of a miscarriage are as follows:

• pain in the area of ​​the uterus,
• bleeding from the vagina,
• blood clots during urination.

Thus, if you experience some of the symptoms listed above, or have any doubts about the favorable course of your pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately.

The following situations described in our article will allow you to distinguish a miscarriage from a normal period.

Unusual discharge

If you are 100% sure you are pregnant, keep a close eye on any bloody vaginal discharge as it could be a miscarriage. Of course, there are exceptions, and many mothers successfully carry the fetus to term and give birth to healthy children. In any case, if you notice strange bright red or brownish discharge, you should consult a doctor. The entire pad does not have to be saturated with them: even a couple of spots can indicate a miscarriage.

Please note: not all miscarriages are accompanied by intense bleeding; these may be light pink or grayish clots.

Therefore, if you notice unusual discharge, pieces of tissue in it, and if this discharge is accompanied by unbearable cramps in the lower abdomen, do not waste time, consult a doctor.

Painful sensations

Most miscarriages do not occur without pain in the uterine area. The vast majority of women experience pain much more intense than during normal menstruation. Sometimes such pain radiates to the back and is often accompanied by difficulty breathing. All these situations may indicate that a miscarriage has occurred or is approaching.

Especially listen for abdominal cramps; if pain is not typical for you during menstruation, this is also a sign of a possible miscarriage.

Contractions

The actual contractions that a pregnant woman experiences during childbirth come at very short intervals, about 2-5 minutes, and are accompanied by unbearable pain.

If you feel these types of contractions early in your pregnancy, it may indicate an impending miscarriage.

If you feel strong contractions that you did not know until now, see your doctor immediately. Perhaps the fetus can still be preserved and the pregnancy can be successfully continued until the required period.

Disappearance of signs of pregnancy

It is advisable to consider this symptom of miscarriage in conjunction with other symptoms. A miscarriage may be indicated by disappearance of signs of pregnancy, such as stopping weight gain, disappearance of nausea, or disappearance of frequent urination. In this case, most likely, we are talking about a “frozen” pregnancy.