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Incomplete Miscarriage


Treatment & Monitoring

What are the treatments for the condition?

The treatments that may be used for an incomplete miscarriage include the following:

  • dilatation and curettage, also called D & C, which is a procedure to remove any fetal tissue that remains in the womb following the miscarriage
  • antibiotics to prevent infection
  • medicines to help the womb contract so that bleeding subsides
  • Rh immune globulin, if the mother's blood is Rh-negative. Otherwise, Rh sensitivity could affect later pregnancies and cause blood incompatibilities between the mother and fetus.
  • What are the side effects of the treatments?

    A D & C may cause bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Antibiotics and medicines to help the womb contract may cause rash, upset stomach, abdominal cramps, and allergic reaction.

    What happens after treatment for the condition?

    Within hours of having a D & C, a woman is usually sent home to get better. She should rest in bed for 1 to 2 days. A woman should contact her doctor if she has any of these symptoms:

  • a fever
  • cramps that get worse or pain that lasts
  • continued heavy bleeding
  • any other new or worsening symptoms
  • Birth control should be used if the woman does not wish to get pregnant again. If a future pregnancy is desired, a couple can try to conceive again after 2 to 3 months. They have an 85% chance of a successful, full-term pregnancy after 1 year.

    How is the condition monitored?

    A woman's doctor may do weekly blood tests to follow the HCG level until it is nearly zero. This ensures that the pregnancy has ended. Sometimes, tests are done on the fetal tissue to learn about its genetic makeup.

    If a woman has had several miscarriages, her doctor may recommend a complete evaluation for infertility.