Miscarriage

Exams and Tests

A miscarriage is diagnosed with:

• A pelvic exam, which allows the doctor to see whether the cervix is opening (dilating) or whether there is tissue or blood in the cervical opening or the vagina.
• A blood test, which checks the level of the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Your doctor may take several measurements of hCG levels over a period of days to learn whether your pregnancy is still progressing.
• An ultrasound, which helps your doctor find out whether the amniotic sac is intact, detect a fetal heartbeat, and estimate the age of the fetus.

If you have not had a blood test before, you may have one to see if you have Rh-negative blood.

Recurrent miscarriage. If you have three or more miscarriages, your doctor can test for possible causes, including:⁷

• Testing your blood for antibodies to check for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
• Using a karyotype to test your blood for parental chromosome abnormalities.
• Testing hormone levels to check for polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Using hysteroscopy or pelvic ultrasound to check for problems with uterine structure.

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Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN	Last Updated: May 7, 2009
Medical Review:	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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