The management of early pregnancy loss (EPL) used to be based largely in the hospital setting, but it has shifted to the outpatient setting, allowing women to remain under the care of their doctor throughout the miscarriage process.
Unless products of conception are seen, the diagnosis of miscarriage is made with ultrasonography and, when ultrasonography is not available or is nondiagnostic, with measurement of ?-hCG levels. Management options for EPL include expectant management, medical management with misoprostol, and uterine aspiration.
This leaflet gives an overview of the key recommendations for practice, factors associated with EPL, miscarriage myths, definitions and ultrasound findings in subcategories of EPL, and evaluation of first-trimester bleeding.
