What to do about a threatened miscarriage?

Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
Updated on March 16, 2025
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Threatened miscarriage refers to the occurrence of a small amount of vaginal bleeding before 28 weeks of pregnancy, often dark red, with no pregnancy tissue expelled, and may include pain in the lower abdomen and back. During a gynecological examination, the cervix is closed and the membrane is unruptured, and the pregnancy can continue if the symptoms disappear after rest and treatment.

In handling a threatened miscarriage, it is first necessary to analyze the causes of the miscarriage. Common causes include embryonic factors, mainly chromosomal abnormalities. If the miscarriage is caused by chromosomal abnormalities, it is mostly unavoidable.

Maternal factors, such as systemic diseases in pregnant women, include increased blood pressure, severe anemia, high fever, etc. Pregnancy can mostly continue with treatment of the cause.

Abnormalities in the reproductive organs, such as uterine malformations, submucous and intramural fibroids, adenomyosis, etc., can lead to miscarriage. With appropriate treatment to preserve the pregnancy, there is hope to continue the pregnancy.

If due to endocrine abnormalities, such as luteal phase deficiency or hypothyroidism, supplementing with progesterone and thyroid hormones can mostly allow the pregnancy to continue.

Identifying the cause of a miscarriage is extremely important, as different causes can lead to different pregnancy outcomes.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
27sec home-news-image

Can you eat bananas with threatened miscarriage?

When threatened miscarriage occurs, it is okay for pregnant women to eat bananas. Bananas contain a good amount of nutrients and are low in sodium. They are a very suitable fruit to eat during pregnancy as they help in preventing mental fatigue, moisturizing the lungs to stop coughing, and preventing constipation during pregnancy. Bananas are also easy to digest and absorb, providing many benefits when consumed during threatened miscarriage.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can a threatened miscarriage have a transvaginal ultrasound?

Whether or not to perform a transvaginal ultrasound during a threatened miscarriage mainly depends on the symptoms of the threatened miscarriage. A threatened miscarriage refers to the signs of a potential miscarriage, with common symptoms including vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain. If there is significant abdominal pain, a transvaginal ultrasound can be performed to determine the position of the gestational sac, or an abdominal ultrasound can also be done. If there is vaginal bleeding, performing a transvaginal ultrasound in this case may aggravate stimulation to the uterus and can easily lead to vaginal inflammation. In such cases, an abdominal ultrasound is generally recommended. Therefore, a transvaginal ultrasound can be performed if there is only abdominal pain during a threatened miscarriage, but it should not be done if there is concurrent vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can threatened miscarriage be treated with medical abortion?

Threatened miscarriage only indicates signs of a potential miscarriage and does not necessarily result in a spontaneous miscarriage. During a threatened miscarriage, medication can be used to preserve the embryo. If one does not wish to continue the pregnancy upon signs of a threatened miscarriage, intervention can be managed like a normal miscarriage. In early pregnancy, if one chooses to have an abortion, there are two methods available: medical abortion and surgical abortion, which are not significantly different from each other. For the majority of typical women, medical abortion is an option during a threatened miscarriage, though it is notably painful and can be prolonged. Patients must be clearly informed about the specific procedures and drawbacks. Surgical abortion, on the other hand, tends to be simpler and less painful.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the threatened miscarriage is not completely miscarried?

When there is a threatened miscarriage and the miscarriage is not complete, the treatment method needs to be determined based on the size of the residual tissue. It is recommended to first go to the hospital for an ultrasound to evaluate the amount of residual tissue in the uterus. If the residual tissue is relatively small, it can generally be treated with oral medications that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, which helps the uterus contract and aids in the expulsion of the remaining tissue. However, if the residual tissue is large and medication is ineffective, a repeat uterine curettage may be necessary. Therefore, when there is residual tissue in the uterine cavity, it must be dealt with promptly, otherwise it can lead to repeated vaginal bleeding, decrease the body's resistance, and increase the risk of anemia and infections.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Threatened miscarriage occurs in how many months?

Threatened miscarriage mostly occurs during the first three months of pregnancy because, at this time, the embryo's development is still unstable, and its connection to the mother is not secure, making it susceptible to various factors that might lead to a threatened miscarriage. In the first three months, before week 12 of pregnancy, which is considered the early stage, special attention must be given. First and foremost, one should not overexert themselves and must ensure adequate rest and sufficient sleep. Sexual intercourse should be avoided during early pregnancy as well as foods that might stimulate uterine contractions, such as hawthorn and coix seed. Generally, paying attention to nutritional intake and avoiding intense physical activities should largely prevent any major issues.