Miscarriage

The loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks is called a miscarriage. This occurs in 15-20% of all pregnancies.

It is difficult to say what causes all miscarriages, but most pregnancies are thought to be lost because of errors in growth and development such as a chromosomal defect or arrest of growth only days after conception. The use of birth control pills, over-the-counter remedies, exercise, sex or stress cannot cause a miscarriage.

The loss of the viability of the pregnancy usually occurs between 6 and 10 weeks of pregnancy. Recognition of the loss of pregnancy may not occur until many weeks later. The course that you take now will depend upon your current condition, desires, the size of the pregnancy and your doctor's recommendations.