Withholding abortion happens when the embryo dies and is not expelled outward, and can remain inside the uterus for weeks or even months. It usually occurs between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation, and there may be bleeding and disappearance of symptoms associated with pregnancy.
In most cases, the treatment consists of emptying the uterine cavity, and the woman should be followed by a psychologist.
What are the signs and symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms that can be caused by a miscarriage are bleeding and disappearance of pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, high urinary frequency, breast engorgement and absence of uterine volume increase. Know what symptoms may occur during pregnancy.
Possible causes
The most common causes that can lead to the occurrence of a retained abortion are:
- Fetal malformations;
- Chromosomal alterations;
- Advanced age of the woman;
- Poor nutrition during pregnancy;
- Use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes and some medications;
- Untreated thyroid disease;
- Uncontrolled diabetes;
- Infections;
- Trauma, such as car accident or falls;
- Obesity;
- Problems in the cervix;
- Severe hypertension;
- Exposure to radiation.
Generally, women suffering from a miscarriage usually do not present a risk for a future pregnancy, unless one of the above factors occurs. Learn how to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
How is the treatment done?
The treatment is done after diagnosis by performing ultrasonography, in order to confirm the death of the fetus and usually consists of emptying the uterine cavity by uterine curettage or by intra-uterine manual aspiration. If left untreated, fetal remains may cause bleeding or even infection, leading to death.
Curettage is a procedure performed by the gynecologist, which cleans the uterus by scraping the wall of the uterus and intra-uterine manual aspiration consists of aspirating the inside of the uterus with a kind of syringe to eliminate the dead embryo and remains of an incomplete abortion. The two techniques can still be used in the same procedure. See how this process is carried out.
When gestational age is above 12 weeks, fetal ossification is already present, and the cervix should be matured with a medicine called misoprostol, waiting for contractions and cleaning the cavity after expulsion of the fetus.
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