Blog
Oct 8, 2026
Experiencing a miscarriage can be an overwhelming and emotional event, whether the pregnancy was long-awaited or unexpected. Many people who go through a miscarriage experience grief, frustration, and concerns about the future. At the same time, miscarriages are very common and, in most cases, do not mean that it will be difficult to get pregnant again.
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy, usually before week 12. About one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, the most common cause is a chromosomal abnormality in the embryo, and a single miscarriage rarely affects your chances of getting pregnant again.
In this article, we explain what a miscarriage is, why it happens, what a missed miscarriage means, when to seek medical care, and how miscarriage may affect future fertility.
What this article covers
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the fetus has developed enough to survive outside the uterus.
Miscarriages are commonly divided into:
Most miscarriages occur early in pregnancy, often before week 12 and frequently before a woman even realizes she is pregnant.
Globally, it is estimated that approximately one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Because many very early pregnancies go undetected, it is difficult to determine the exact number.
The risk of miscarriage is highest in the first weeks and falls week by week. Once a heartbeat has been seen on ultrasound around week 7–8 the risk drops clearly, and after week 12 miscarriage is uncommon. The risk also rises with the woman's age, from around 35 and especially after 40.
The most common cause of miscarriage is that the embryo or fetus is not developing normally.
This is often due to:
In most cases, the body recognizes early on that the pregnancy is not developing as it should and naturally ends the pregnancy. This is one reason why many miscarriages occur around weeks 6-8 of pregnancy.
It is important to remember that miscarriage is almost never caused by something you did or failed to do. For most people, miscarriage results from biological processes that are beyond anyone's control.
How a miscarriage feels varies from person to person. The most common signs of miscarriage are:
Bleeding in early pregnancy does not always mean miscarriage, light bleeding is common and many pregnancies continue normally. Always contact your healthcare provider about bleeding or pain during pregnancy so the pregnancy can be checked with an ultrasound.
A common concern after a miscarriage is whether it will be more difficult to become pregnant again.
For the vast majority of people, the answer is no.
A single miscarriage does not usually affect fertility and does not reduce the chances of future pregnancies. In fact, research shows that most women who experience a miscarriage go on to have a healthy pregnancy later. If you are still worried, a fertility assessment can show where you stand.
In very rare cases, genetic factors in one of the parents may contribute to recurrent miscarriages, but this is uncommon.
In most situations, miscarriage is due to chance rather than an underlying fertility problem.
A missed miscarriage, also known as a silent miscarriage or missed abortion, occurs when the embryo or fetus has stopped developing but the body has not yet recognized the loss and expelled the pregnancy tissue. It is common: a large share of early miscarriages are first discovered at a routine ultrasound.
Because the body does not always react immediately, pregnancy symptoms may continue for some time.
A missed miscarriage is often discovered through:
In some cases, several weeks may pass before the body naturally begins the miscarriage process.
Some couples experience multiple miscarriages in succession. Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses; the couple is then offered a recurrent miscarriage evaluation.
Even in these situations, chance remains the most common explanation rather than a serious medical condition. However, recurrent miscarriage is usually an indication for further investigation.
Uncommon conditions such as antiphospholipid syndrome, clotting disorders (thrombophilia) or autoimmune diseases such as SLE, as well as a chromosome change in one of the parents, can contribute, but often no cause is found.
It is also important to remember that many couples who experience recurrent miscarriages later go on to have children. Having conceived before is often a positive sign that fertilization can occur.
A recurrent miscarriage evaluation usually includes an ultrasound of the uterus, blood tests and chromosome analysis of both partners. How the evaluation works step by step at Ovumia, who should be evaluated and which treatments exist is described on the recurrent miscarriage page.
Many individuals wonder whether stress, exercise, or diet may have caused their miscarriage.
The truth is that everyday lifestyle factors usually play only a very small role, if any.
A normally developing pregnancy is rarely affected by ordinary physical activity, work, stress, or occasional dietary choices. The vast majority of miscarriages are caused by biological factors outside a woman's control. Smoking, heavy alcohol use and significant overweight can, however, raise the risk somewhat, read more about lifestyle and fertility.
For this reason, it is important not to blame yourself after a miscarriage.
An ectopic pregnancy, sometimes called an extrauterine pregnancy, is not the same as a miscarriage.
In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube.
Normally, fertilization takes place in the fallopian tube and the embryo subsequently travels to the uterus, where it implants in the uterine lining. In an ectopic pregnancy, this process does not occur normally.
Common symptoms may include:
An ectopic pregnancy can become life-threatening if the fallopian tube ruptures and causes internal bleeding.
You should seek urgent gynecological care if you:
Following a miscarriage, the goal is for the uterus to be completely cleared of pregnancy tissue.
In many cases, the body manages this process naturally without any medical intervention.
If the tissue is not expelled or if the process takes too long, there are two main treatment options.
Medication can be used to help the uterus expel the pregnancy tissue.
This treatment can often be completed without surgery.
Surgical treatment involves removing the pregnancy tissue from the uterus using vacuum aspiration.
This may be recommended if:
The most appropriate treatment is determined together by the patient and healthcare provider.
Bleeding after a miscarriage usually lasts one to two weeks and gradually tapers off; some women bleed for up to four weeks. A pregnancy test can stay positive for several weeks afterwards because the pregnancy hormone hCG falls slowly. Contact your healthcare provider if the bleeding is very heavy, if you develop a fever or if the pain gets worse.
Many people are surprised by how quickly the body recovers after a miscarriage.
Ovulation often returns within approximately two weeks, meaning that pregnancy is possible soon after a miscarriage.
Traditionally, individuals were often advised to wait until after their next menstrual period before trying to conceive again. This recommendation was mainly intended to make it easier to date a subsequent pregnancy accurately.
From a medical perspective, however, there is usually no reason to delay trying to conceive once you feel physically and emotionally ready.
The first ovulation often occurs two to four weeks after the miscarriage and the first period usually within four to six weeks. Cycles can be irregular for the first few months. If your period has not returned after eight weeks, or you have been trying to conceive for six months without success, it is worth contacting a fertility clinic.
Losing a pregnancy can bring many emotions. For some, the grief centers on the loss itself, while others worry about their ability to have children in the future.
It is important to know that miscarriage is common and that most people who experience a miscarriage later go on to have a successful pregnancy. A miscarriage rarely means that there is something wrong with your fertility.
At Ovumia, we meet many women and couples who have questions about miscarriage, fertility, and future pregnancies. Through fertility assessments, fertility counselling, and individualized treatment plans, we help you understand your fertility and explore your next steps. Book a first visit or contact us and we will find the right starting point for your situation.
If you have experienced a miscarriage and feel worried about the future, remember that you are not alone. For most people, there are excellent chances of becoming pregnant again and having the child they long for.
About one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, most before week 12. Many very early miscarriages happen before the woman knows she is pregnant, so the true figure is probably higher.
Most commonly vaginal bleeding and cramping or pain in the lower abdomen, often like strong period pain. Pregnancy symptoms usually fade. With a missed miscarriage there may be no symptoms at all.
They are different names for the same thing: the pregnancy has stopped developing but the body has not yet expelled it. It is usually discovered on ultrasound.
Ovulation often returns within two to four weeks and pregnancy is possible in the very first cycle. Medically there is usually no reason to wait once you feel ready.
The risk is highest in the first weeks and drops clearly once a heartbeat has been seen on ultrasound around week 7–8. After week 12 miscarriage is uncommon.
After three consecutive miscarriages; that is the definition at Ovumia too. A late miscarriage after week 12 is often evaluated after a single loss. How the evaluation works is explained on our recurrent miscarriage page.
Medically reviewed by Balsam Haseeb, specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, Ovumia Sweden · Last updated 2026-09-24.
