Miscarriage
Unfortunately, many women suffer at least one miscarriage in their lifetime. Most women then feel very alone in this situation, as the topic is often still treated as a taboo subject even among women. However, it is assumed that around 15-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage in the first 12 weeks. The number is probably even higher, as many very early miscarriages are interpreted as heavy menstrual bleeding. The risk of miscarriage increases with the age of the pregnant woman.
The most common reason for a miscarriage in the early weeks is a chromosome distribution disorder. A late miscarriage (late abortion) occurs after 12 weeks, which is much rarer and is usually related to other causes.
A miscarriage can manifest itself in very different ways. Many women suffer from bleeding of varying intensity, sometimes heavier than their regular period, as well as cramp-like pain. In many cases, this is a natural process and the woman concerned does not need any further treatment. A "muted" miscarriage or "missed abortion" is when the pregnancy stops developing without the pregnant woman showing symptoms such as bleeding or pain. This can be particularly upsetting if the pregnancy is discovered completely unexpectedly during a routine examination.
The treatment of a miscarriage includes various options, which can be discussed with the pregnant woman calmly. There is no reason not to wait and see, as bleeding often still occurs even if there were no symptoms beforehand. Many pregnant women find the wait, which can last up to several weeks, too stressful, so many women do not want to choose this option. The second option is drug therapy, in which two drugs are administered in stages to induce bleeding and thus terminate the pregnancy. Drug treatment is gentle on the uterus. However, the medication can also cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, increased bleeding and pain. In most cases, tolerance is relatively good and most women do not need any further treatment. Drug therapy is most likely to be successful if the pregnancy was only at an early stage of development.
The third option is a curettage, which can be performed on an outpatient basis with very few complications. The advantages and disadvantages of each option must be discussed calmly with the pregnant woman, and ultimately the patient can make her own personal decision if it is not a medical emergency.
In rare cases, there are 3 or more consecutive miscarriages, known as habitual miscarriages. In these cases, every woman should be offered an investigation into a possible cause. These are then also covered by health insurance in most cases. Unfortunately, there is no clear cause for the frequent miscarriages in around half of all women. Possible causes include a genetic strain in one of the parents, a blood clotting disorder, a metabolic disorder or a mechanical cause within the uterus.
A miscarriage is always a stressful and drastic experience. Sometimes the great fear of another miscarriage overshadows everyday life. Psychological or pastoral counselling can often be very helpful. We are there for you as trustworthy doctors.
