Pregnancy for many women is a long-awaited joyful event. However, sometimes with a long delay in menstruation, blood discharge is observed. How to distinguish a miscarriage from menstruation if pregnancy is early? We’ll take a closer look at these delicate processes.
Feature of concepts
Menstruation and miscarriage are completely different processes in their physiological nature. Despite their similar symptoms.
How to distinguish a miscarriage from menstruation? Let's take a closer look.
Menstrual bleeding is a natural occurrence. Every month, the woman’s body prepares for the conception of the baby. This process is controlled by hormones.
The inside of the uterus is covered with endometrium. This is a special layer that is designed to fix the fetal egg and the potential nutrition of the embryo. If ovulation (fertilization) has not occurred, then the endometrium dies. It is removed from the uterus in the form of small blood clots that formed throughout the cycle. Outwardly, this manifests itself as follows: bloody particles are released from the vagina. Often the phenomenon is accompanied by mild (or severe) pain. This whole process is called menstruation (more commonly, menstruation).
A miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion at an early stage - up to 22 weeks. If conception was made recently, then the rejection of the fetus externally is practically no different from menstruation. This process is also accompanied by bloody discharge and characteristic pain. A fetal egg is too small to be seen among blood clots.
Classification of miscarriages
For a more detailed study of this issue, it is necessary to consider the classification of miscarriages. So, doctors divide miscarriages into the following types:
- Threat of miscarriage - characterized by spotting and contraction of the uterus. Most often, you can stop, while maintaining pregnancy.
- Beginning an abortion - manifests itself in the form of profuse spotting and cramping pain. With this condition of a woman, pregnancy does not persist.
- Incomplete abortion - occurs with partial rejection of the fetus.
- Complete abortion - the fetus is completely rejected, while the uterus contracts, gradually the bleeding stops.
- A common miscarriage is a situation in which an arbitrary termination of pregnancy occurs with fetal rejection a third time.
In a separate category put forward a septic type of miscarriage. This type of arbitrary abortion occurs due to infection of the contents of the uterus.
Symptoms of septic miscarriage should not be confused with menstruation:
- unpleasant odor from vaginal discharge;
- bleeding;
- lower abdominal pain;
- febrile general condition.
Ignoring this condition is extremely dangerous. You must immediately call an ambulance service.
Causes of Miscarriage
Miscarriage is a fairly common occurrence. According to statistics, in one of six pregnant women, it occurs early. Experienced doctors identified the most common causes of spontaneous abortion:
- abnormality of the fetus;
- diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and excretory system of the mother;
- addictions;
- rough sexual intimacy;
- wrong lifestyle;
- a bacterial or viral infection that infects the fetus through the membranes;
- frequent stresses and disorders of the nervous system;
- insufficient or overweight mother;
- excessive physical activity;
- hormonal disorders;
- previous abortions (there is a high probability that they will entail infertility or miscarriage);
- polycystic ovary syndrome;
- exposure to toxins on the body (poor environmental environment, work in hazardous industries);
- Rhesus conflict - mismatch of the Rhesus factor of the child and mother;
- in case of an accident (for example, an accident), in this case, the body fights to save the life of the mother, not the fetus;
- if the expectant mother is over 35 years old (the optimal age for bearing a child is 20-35 years old);
- IVF procedure (if recently performed);
- eating herbs that have an abortive property (tansy, parsley, thyme);
- anomaly of the uterus;
- individual drugs.
Most often, spontaneous abortion occurs early. The future mother may not even suspect that she is pregnant. In this case, the ovum is almost imperceptibly displayed along with the menstrual period.
Symptoms of a Miscarriage
Before figuring out how to distinguish miscarriage from menstruation without delay, you need to consider the typical symptoms of spontaneous abortion. So, the main signs in which a miscarriage occurs through menstruation in early pregnancy:
- sudden inexplicable weight loss;
- pregnancy symptoms disappear (toxicosis, drowsiness, breast swelling);
- false contractions;
- contractions, which are accompanied by severe pain and occur periodically;
- disruption of the digestive tract;
- discharge of red, brown and dark brown shades;
- profuse bleeding with clots, cramps and pain from the lower abdomen and lower back;
- unusual, uncharacteristic vaginal discharge.
How to find out if a miscarriage has occurred or not? The main signs that will help determine the onset of a miscarriage are severe pain and heavy bleeding.
With the threat of pregnancy failure, the discharge is not red, but brown. This fact should force the expectant mother to consult a doctor.
Another characteristic sign of impending abortion is an increase in the tone of the uterus. Particular attention should be paid to it if there is severe pain in the lower abdomen. Such a deplorable combination of circumstances can be avoided if the expectant mother does not lift weights and gets rid of physical activity.
If the pregnancy is frozen or ectopic, then a complete miscarriage occurs rarely. Seeking medical attention should be immediate.
Early miscarriage: how to distinguish it from menstruation?
Pretty hard. Since the ovum is so meager in the early stages that a miscarriage during menstruation can be almost asymptomatic.
How to distinguish a miscarriage from menstruation? You need to look at the term. After several weeks of pregnancy, embryo development may stop. This is facilitated by such causal circumstances:
- improper attachment of the embryo to the uterine wall;
- imbalance in hormones;
- mutations in the chromosomes;
- uterine pathology;
- intrauterine infection;
- mechanical damage to the fetus (upon impact);
- multiple pregnancy;
- previously made abortions.
You can unambiguously determine an early miscarriage by the following signs: the formation of seizures, bleeding, blood clots in the vaginal discharge. If there is a piece of tissue in the discharge that resembles a bursting bubble, then there can be no doubt that the miscarriage has occurred.
No delay
If the menstruation went exactly on time, then there can be no question of spontaneous abortion. And how to distinguish a miscarriage from menstruation? It is necessary to pay attention to bleeding. It is this symptom that indicates the onset of a miscarriage. If a woman notices such symptoms:
- cramping severe pain that radiates to the lumbar region;
- brown bloody discharge, an abundance of blood clots ;
- positive pregnancy test.
If bleeding occurs without delay of menstruation, then you need to urgently consult a doctor. A complete diagnosis of the woman's condition will be required for the development of various pathologies.
During menstruation
Miscarriage during menstruation can occur. It is especially difficult to distinguish menstruation from a miscarriage if the menstruation is painful, profuse and there are bloody discharge with blood clots.
In this case, at the slightest suspicion, you should consult your doctor.
A miscarriage even in the early stages is dangerous for a woman's reproductive health. Hospitalization and lengthy rehabilitation may be required under the supervision of a physician.
How does a miscarriage occur?
Usually a miscarriage occurs in the early stages of pregnancy - 2-3 weeks. A woman may not even suspect him.
It is almost impossible to determine an early miscarriage on your own. Because the symptoms are similar to regular menstruation.
Less commonly, miscarriage occurs between 3 and 20 weeks of gestation. If a miscarriage occurred after 20 weeks, then this phenomenon is called “stillbirth”.
How to find out if there was a miscarriage?
In order not to fall into a stupor with spontaneous miscarriage and not to provoke complications, you need to know a few rules:
- A miscarriage does not occur instantly, it can last from several hours to several days.
- During the threat of a miscarriage, if a woman feels severe pain in the lower abdomen and observes heavy spotting, you should immediately consult a doctor. In this case, you can not hesitate. Since pregnancy can still be saved.
Miscarriage and menstruation: how to determine the difference? If a woman does not know about her pregnancy and is waiting for her period, then the first alarm call is a delay.
If the menstruation has shifted for several days, there are abundant blood clots in the discharge, then this is a miscarriage. Urgently need to see a doctor. Otherwise, ignoring this condition can lead to the development of gynecological problems.
Only a doctor can accurately determine a miscarriage. To do this, he conducts ultrasound diagnostics, listening to the fetal heart rate. Also, a woman will need to take an analysis to determine the level of hCG in the blood.
If a woman noticed pieces of tissue in blood clots, then they should be put in a sterile container and taken to a doctor. This will help identify a possible miscarriage and prevent a number of complications.
If a woman has an incomplete miscarriage, then she will need mechanical or medical cleaning of the uterine cavity.
If the threat of involuntary termination of pregnancy is associated with a loose closure of the cervix, then special rings are installed on it. Shortly before the birth of a child, the doctor should remove them.
The first menstruation after a miscarriage
If, after a miscarriage, menstruation went, then clearly their nature has changed compared with menstruation before conception:
- Often a new cycle coincides in timing with the previous one, but it can shift by several days.
- The volume of blood secreted from the vagina is disturbed. Approximately 90 to 150 ml. An average of 4 gasket changes per day.
- Regarding the composition of the discharge: without an unpleasant odor and without blood clots more than 1.5 cm. Usually they have a dark red or reddish-brownish tint.
The cycle will fully recover three months after a miscarriage.
Depending on the condition of the woman after spontaneous spontaneous abortion, menstruation occurs in different ways. If the doctor has a favorable prognosis, then the first menstruation after a miscarriage occurs after 25-35 days. If menstruation is absent, then this is a clear sign of pathology and functional impairment.
Recovery after a miscarriage
After a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy, the doctor recommends that the woman observe bed rest, move less and give up intimacy for a while.
During this recovery period, a woman should avoid nervous shocks and stresses in order to maintain pregnancy. If the patient is too emotional and impressionable, the doctor prescribes her sedatives (valerian or motherwort).
The next stage of treatment: taking hormonal drugs (Dufaston, Utrozhestan) to eliminate the cause of the miscarriage. In rare cases, surgical intervention is required.
The main factor in the speedy recovery of the body is a positive emotional attitude. Thanks to him, he will be able to maintain pregnancy and facilitate childbirth.
Prevention
In order to avoid the risk of miscarriage, it is necessary to adhere to the advice of gynecologists. So, the basic rules:
- give up bad habits during pregnancy and three months before conception;
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- eat right;
- exercise regularly;
- Once every six months, check with a gynecologist;
- during pregnancy, you should forget about sports achievements and postpone physical activity.
The right attitude to your health practically increases the chance of having a healthy baby. And the threat of miscarriage can be determined only by pronounced symptoms. However, rely on your own feelings is not worth it. It is better to visit a doctor as soon as you notice disturbing symptoms.