“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
Missed abortion, also known as a missed miscarriage, is a pregnancy loss in which the embryo or fetus dies but is not expelled from the uterus. The pregnancy may have stopped growing several weeks prior, but the woman may not have any symptoms of a miscarriage. This can be detected during a routine ultrasound or when the woman presents with symptoms such as vaginal bleeding or cramping.
The causes of missed abortion are not always clear, but some risk factors may include maternal age, chromosomal abnormalities, infections, hormonal imbalances, or medical conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease.
Treatment for missed abortion may depend on the gestational age and the woman's symptoms. In some cases, the body may naturally expel the tissue, and the woman may not need any treatment. However, if the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus, medical or surgical intervention may be necessary to prevent infection and other complications.
Medical management involves the use of medications such as misoprostol to induce uterine contractions and expel the pregnancy tissue. Surgical management involves a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C), in which the cervix is dilated and the pregnancy tissue is removed with a surgical instrument.
Emotional support is also an important aspect of the management of missed abortion, as it can be a difficult and traumatic experience for the woman and her partner. Counseling and support groups may be helpful for women and their partners who are coping with a missed abortion.