What Are the Different Types of Miscarriages? What To Do If You Are Having a Pregnancy Loss?

Miscarriage is far more complex—and far more common—than most people realize. Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OB-GYN and REI, breaks down the different types of miscarriage and pregnancy loss and explains what the medical terminology actually means. Using clinical experience, evidence-based medicine, and real patient scenarios, Dr. Crawford walks through what happens at different stages of pregnancy loss, how miscarriages are diagnosed and managed, and what follow-up care is essential to protect your health and future fertility.

Questions Answered:

Are there different types of miscarriage and pregnancy loss?

What does it mean when my medical record says “spontaneous abortion”?

How is pregnancy loss medically defined, and what is the usual threshold of viability?

What is a biochemical (chemical) pregnancy, and does it count as a pregnancy loss?

What is a spontaneous miscarriage, and how is it different from a chemical pregnancy?

Why is it important to follow my hCG levels back to zero after a miscarriage?

What complications can occur if pregnancy tissue is retained after a miscarriage?

What is a missed miscarriage, and how is it diagnosed and managed?

What is an incomplete miscarriage, and how is it typically treated?

What is a threatened miscarriage, and does bleeding always mean I will miscarry?

What is a septic miscarriage, and why is it so dangerous?

What is an ectopic pregnancy, and how is it managed?

What is a pregnancy of unknown location, and why is it often treated like an ectopic pregnancy?

What is a molar pregnancy, and what risks does it pose to my health?

What is choriocarcinoma (gestational trophoblastic disease), and why must hCG be followed after pregnancy loss or birth?