If you think you could be pregnant, then it is important to be aware of any changes to your body. One physical change to be aware of is the passing of small pieces of tissue while pregnant. Although it can feel alarming, it is not usually a cause for concern. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what it means to pass small pieces of tissue while pregnant and why it is not usually a sign of bleeding. We’ll also discuss when you should seek medical attention if you’re experiencing this issue. With the help of this blog post, you’ll be able to understand the process of passing small pieces of tissue while pregnant and have peace of mind that it is not an indication of bleeding.
Why see our specialists at UC Davis Health?
Our specialists can evaluate you quickly in an office setting. Any necessary laboratory testing or ultrasound examinations can be completed quickly and easily. We conduct our own ultrasound examination in-office, and we can give you the results right away.
If we do find out you’ve had a miscarriage, we can talk to you right away about expectant management or treatment options. The laboratory is located in the same building as our office in case you need blood work to assess the pregnancy.
Go to the Emergency Room to see our doctors if you have very heavy vaginal bleeding or are feeling very ill.
Not all miscarriages “need” treatment. You are free to decide whether to forego treatment and wait for the pregnancy to end completely. When a miscarriage is diagnosed, our doctors are committed to giving all patients options, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each choice. Regardless of the option they select, all patients with Rh-negative blood require treatment with Rh-immune globulin, an injection that stops a woman from developing substances in her blood that could attack the baby during a subsequent pregnancy.
When a diagnosis of miscarriage is made, options include:
This indicates that you won’t receive any treatment; just ongoing monitoring. Most women who experience an early miscarriage eventually pass the pregnancy completely. Time is the main problem because it is impossible to know with certainty when this will happen. When the pregnancy does end, you will typically experience heavy bleeding and excruciating abdominal cramping. When the pregnancy starts to exit the uterus, our doctors can discuss exactly what to expect, how much bleeding is too much bleeding, and what painkillers can be used.
The pregnancy tissue is forced to exit the uterus by means of medication in this treatment. The medications cause cramping and bleeding, just like how the pregnancy tissue would naturally pass. Utilizing the medications is similar to expectant management, with the exception that you are aware of when the pregnancy will end. The majority of women will miscarry within 24 hours of taking the medication. Our doctors can go over exactly what to anticipate, how much bleeding is too much bleeding, and what painkillers to use during treatment, similar to expectant management. You have three options if the pregnancy does not end: repeat the medical procedure, have a suction aspiration, or wait.
Depending on your preferences and the needs of the individual women, you may decide to have the procedure in the operating room or in the doctor’s office. Office procedure:
After a miscarriage, bleeding may persist for a few weeks, but it usually gets much lighter with suction aspiration. Any bleeding might transform from a bright red to a pink or brown color. Lower abdominal cramping is also typical in the days following treatment. If you experience heavier than lighter post-miscarriage bleeding, a fever, vaginal discharge, or a strange or disagreeable vaginal odor, you should see a doctor right away. Avoid intercourse, douching, or using tampons for one week. Depending on how you feel, you can immediately return to your normal activities. Importantly, it will be crucial to begin using an effective method of contraception if you want to put off getting pregnant after the miscarriage.
One miscarriage does not make you more likely to have subsequent ones. If you have only experienced one previous miscarriage, the likelihood of miscarriage during your subsequent pregnancy is comparable to the rate experienced by the general population.
No. Working, exercising, and having sex do not raise the chance of miscarriage.
Patients used to be advised to wait one or two menstrual cycles before trying to conceive years ago. If you become pregnant right away, we are aware that it is extremely unlikely that any issues will arise with a subsequent pregnancy. Whether you want to become pregnant right away or if you feel like you need time to recover emotionally from the miscarriage will determine how soon you decide to try again. After a miscarriage, ovulation can start up again as soon as two weeks, so you need to use effective contraception right away if you don’t want to get pregnant right away.
Most experts do not advise special testing until you have had three early miscarriages (or two miscarriages if you are a woman over 40) because most early miscarriages are brought on by issues unique to that fertilized egg and because miscarriage in general is fairly common. After that, it is referred to as a “recurrent” miscarriage, and additional testing may be required. Studies have shown that even after a woman has experienced three consecutive miscarriages, her chance of the next pregnancy being normal is still about 70% All pregnant women who experience a loss later in their pregnancy should undergo additional testing.
What are the most common symptoms of a miscarriage?
Vaginal bleeding and/or spotting are common symptoms of a miscarriage. Some women may mistake a miscarriage for a menstrual period. But it’s not the only sign. Other symptoms of a miscarriage include:
In the event that you do pass tissue from your vagina, your doctor probably recommends storing any pieces in a container. This is so they can be analyzed. The tissue from a very early miscarriage may resemble a small blood clot.
During a typical pregnancy, some women may experience light bleeding or spotting. Call your doctor if you’re unsure whether your bleeding levels are normal.
What does an early miscarriage look like?
Bleeding is common in the early weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, bleeding by itself should not be interpreted as a sign of an early pregnancy loss.
An early pregnancy loss can result in the following symptoms in addition to bleeding:
FAQ
Is it possible to pass tissue and not miscarry?
Some vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy and should not be a cause for alarm. It may be caused by a cyst, an infection, or some other condition entirely unrelated to the pregnancy.
Does passing tissue always mean miscarriage?
Can you pass clots and tissue and still be pregnant?
How do you know if tissue is passed during pregnancy?