Skip to main contentSkip to main content

Miscarriage

Overview

Open all pages about Miscarriage

A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. The main signs of a miscarriage include vaginal bleeding, cramping and pain.

Symptoms of miscarriage include vaginal bleeding, cramps and pain in the lower part of your tummy (abdomen).

Miscarriages can happen for a number of reasons, such as problems with the unborn baby, a health condition in the mother, or an infection.

Most miscarriages cannot be prevented. You can reduce your risk by not smoking, not drinking alcohol, not taking drugs and by being a healthy weight.

Sometimes medicines or surgery are needed after a miscarriage to remove any remaining pregnancy tissue.

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks.

Page last reviewed: 09/03/2022
Next review due: 09/03/2025