A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during early pregnancy, when the foetus is expelled from the mother's uterus before it is well enough developed to live outside it. Up to 1 in 3 pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Symptoms of early miscarriage
Symptoms of an early miscarriage are similar to those of a heavy menstrual period:
Reasons for miscarriage
There can be many reasons for a miscarriage. Most often the foetus has a defect and cannot develop well. It may also be the result of, for example, an infection, a hormone disorder or poor implantation in the uterus. Often it is unclear what causes a miscarriage. Usually a miscarriage has no influence on a future pregnancy.
A miscarriage is not the mother’s fault. Normal physical activities, like walking or cycling, are never the cause of a miscarriage.
Sex during pregnancy is not harmful to the foetus, unless your doctor advises you not to have sex.