Management of Early Spontaneous Pregnancy Loss

Procedures for managing early pregnancy loss are moving out of the operating room and into the office, safely and successfully.

Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is common: 15% to 20% of all recognized pregnancies end in spontaneous loss, and about one in four women will experience such pregnancy failure during her lifetime.1 Key terms for EPL are shown in the table.

Although surgical treatment has been preferred historically, management strategies have evolved to encompass out-of-hospital care. Options for treating women with EPL now include expectant management, medical therapy, and surgical evacuation.

Expectant Management

Expectant management of EPL allows for the complete expulsion of a lost pregnancy without medical or surgical intervention; however, resolution can take as long as 1 month, thereby compounding the anxiety and sadness associated with EPL. Many women who c…

Authors

Amanda T. Rodemann, DO, Jana L. Allison, MD

Danny J. Schust, MD

Management of Early Spontaneous Pregnancy Loss

Topics

Expectant Management

Authors