A guide for patients
Miscarriage is common — around 1 in 8 known pregnancies end this way, most often in the first 12 weeks, and roughly 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage at some point in their reproductive life. It is rarely caused by anything you did, and in most cases no clear reason is found. This guide explains the different terms you may hear on a scan or from your care team.
Threatened miscarriage
This means you've had some bleeding, sometimes with cramping, but your cervix is closed and the scan shows a pregnancy that is still developing normally, with a heartbeat present. Many pregnancies continue perfectly well after this. It's called “threatened” because there's a slightly higher chance of miscarriage than in a pregnancy with no bleeding — but it is not a diagnosis of loss, and often nothing further needs to be done except rest and a follow-up scan if advised.
Missed miscarriage
Sometimes called a “silent” miscarriage, this is when the pregnancy has stopped developing — there's no heartbeat, or the sac has not grown as expected — but your body hasn't yet recognised this, so you may have no bleeding or pain at all. It's often found unexpectedly at a routine scan. Because there are no obvious symptoms, this diagnosis can feel especially sudden and shocking.
Complete miscarriage
This means all the pregnancy tissue has already passed naturally, usually with bleeding and cramping that has now settled. A scan will show an empty womb. No further medical treatment is usually needed, though your team will confirm this with you.
Incomplete miscarriage
Here, the miscarriage has begun and some tissue has passed, but the scan shows some remains inside the womb. Bleeding and cramping are often ongoing. You may be offered the choice to wait for it to complete naturally, take medication to help it along, or have a short surgical procedure — depending on what's safest and most comfortable for you.
What happens next
Whichever type applies to you, there are usually three paths forward: watchful waiting, medical management (tablets), or surgical management (a brief procedure). Your care team will talk through what's suitable for your situation, your symptoms, and your preferences — there is rarely only one right answer.
You're not alone
Miscarriage can bring grief, confusion, or relief, sometimes all at once — every reaction is valid. Our team is here to answer your questions, explain your results clearly, and support you through whatever comes next.
Book your recurrent miscarriage screening consultation with Althea Women's Health today.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice. Please speak with one of our specialists about your individual circumstances.