What treatment can a woman expect when she has had a miscarriage?
The central goal of the doctor in this situation will be to try to figure out whether the woman has passed all of the tissue from the fetus and placenta. If she has passed all the tissue, she may only require observation by medical personnel. On the other hand, a woman who has not passed all of the tissue (incomplete abortion) will usually need suction dilation and curettage (D&C) of the uterus to remove any retained products of the pregnancy. This procedure is done with local anesthesia, and sometimes antibiotics may be prescribed for the woman to prevent infection. When should a woman receive evaluation for underlying causes of pregnancy loss? Currently, most practitioners will not initiate an extensive medical evaluation for a single pregnancy loss, since the chance of having a normal pregnancy subsequent to even two consecutive miscarriages is 80% to 90%. For women with recurrent pregnancy loss, an evaluation will focus on the pattern and history of the prior miscarriages. Three co
