What is the difference between menstruation and miscarriage

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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Signs and Symptoms. Chemical Pregnancy. First-Trimester Miscarriage. Second-Trimester Miscarriage. Understanding Chemical Pregnancy. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. People sometimes use the term chemical pregnancy to refer to pregnancy loss at around 5 weeks or earlier. A person might realize that they have experienced a very early pregnancy loss if they miss a period, receive a positive pregnancy test result, then soon begin bleeding and receive a negative result.

Around half of all early losses result from a chromosomal irregularity in the fetus that keeps it from developing any further. The bleeding may resemble menstruation, or it may be lighter than usual, and it can occur with cramps. Most people recover from very early pregnancy loss without care from a doctor. A person can usually try to conceive again soon after, although a doctor may recommend waiting until after the next period. The indications of pregnancy loss can differ , depending on when it occurs.

Before week 6, pregnancy loss may involve bleeding that is lighter or heavier than a period. It may include clots and occur with abdominal cramping. During this time, the bleeding of pregnancy loss may include clots and a small, fluid-filled sac that had provided nutrients for the developing fetus. At around 8 weeks, a person may also pass tissue that may be dark red and shiny.

In addition, they may be able to identify the gestational sac containing the embryo. By week 10, the blood clots that pass may be dark red and jelly-like, and fluid may also pass from the vagina. Bleeding or spotting is common in early pregnancy, but not after week If it occurs after this time, seek urgent medical advice. After about week 12, pregnancy loss is no longer considered early. In the second trimester, a person may not have any indication of pregnancy loss until they go for a routine scan.

By this stage, most people realize that they are pregnant and are unlikely to mistake pregnancy loss for a period. However, this may not be true for people who typically have irregular periods. The type of bleeding that occurs with a pregnancy loss can be subtly different from a period, and other symptoms can distinguish these events.

If in doubt, seek medical care or advice. If a person has experienced pregnancy loss, their next period may begin after 4—6 weeks , and they may ovulate after 2 weeks. Vaginal mucus or discharge may be slippery and clear a few days before ovulation. A person may also notice a rise in their basal temperature, or the temperature when they wake up. But the research on this is mixed. About 2 to 3 percent of miscarriages occur during the second trimester.

Losing a pregnancy starting from the 20th week of pregnancy and into the third trimester is considered stillbirth , not miscarriage. You can ovulate and become pregnant within two weeks of an early miscarriage.

About 1 percent of people have multiple miscarriages. Your doctor will probably advise you to avoid sex, tampons, and douches for two weeks.

This will help prevent infection. They may also want you to take a pregnancy test after about two weeks. This can help them determine whether your hormone levels are back to normal. For the first few days, you may notice blood clots and tissue passing, but this should taper off after about a week.

It will take about four to eight weeks for your regular period to return. Mild exercise following an early miscarriage is usually fine, but check with your doctor. It may depend on how far along you were, as well as your overall health.

There are many emotions a person might have following a miscarriage. Some feel anger, sadness, or profound loss. Others might feel relieved. These feelings may have to do with whether you knew you were pregnant or if you were trying to have a baby. It may take some time for you to process everything. You may also consider looking into support groups for people who have experienced miscarriage. Women's Health. Primary Care. Mental Health. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots.

It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close. Lindsay Kalter. This article was medically reviewed by G. Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board. Symptoms of a miscarriage, primarily heavy bleeding and cramping, can last up to two weeks, while lighter bleeding may continue another one to two weeks.

It can take four to six weeks to get a normal period again, and irregular periods immediately following miscarriages are common. The emotional effects of a miscarriage, which are less often discussed, can be long-lasting and difficult.

Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice. Lindsay Kalter is a health freelance writer and contributor to Insider who has held positions with Politico, the Boston Herald, and the American Heart Association. She has covered topics from mental health and opioid use to cutting-edge medical research and the COVID pandemic.