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Medical management

Medical management means taking medication to help the removal of the pregnancy tissue from the body. For instance, if you don’t want to wait for the miscarriage to occur naturally or want the miscarriage completed as soon as possible, you have the option of medical management to speed up the process.

At a glance

  • Medical management of miscarriage involves taking medication to bring on the miscarriage
  • You can expect heavy bleeding and abdominal pain to begin within 7-14 days
  • Pain and bleeding should stop after 2 weeks
  • If pain and bleeding persists its important to go back to your doctor or specialist.
  • You can download our printable Medical Management Fact Sheet.

What to expect

What does the treatment involve?

You will be asked to take a course of misoprostol. The medication can either be inserted into your vagina or bucally (between your gums and inner lining of the mouth) and helps the neck of the womb (cervix) to open and lets the remaining pregnancy come away.

Illustrated icon of a female experiencing abdominal cramping

Pain and Bleeding

For most women, the pregnancy tissue will begin to pass within 4-6 hours after the medication has been taken or inserted. The medication may not work for some women, and you may require a second dose in 24 to 48 hours. Like natural miscarriage, the first signs you notice are spotting and cramping, which will progress to heavy bleeding and painful cramping or contractions.

For most women, the pain will start to feel less severe after 24 to 48 hours, and the bleeding will also begin to reduce. It could take up to 2 weeks before the bleeding or spotting stops completely.

Illustrated icon of a medical pills/tablets

Medication

You may need to take pain relief to manage the pain. Usually, you are provided medication and can manage your miscarriage at home. Some hospitals, however, offer overnight stays for medical management.

Pain relief and anti-sickness medication can assist with the symptoms. In most cases, over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol (‘Panadol’) or Ibuprofen (“Nurofen” or “Rafen”) will be enough to help manage the pain.

Recovering at home

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What will I need at home?

It’s good to have the following at home:

  • Pads (not tampons) – you may want to purchase a few packs as you may be changing your pad regularly.
  • Pain relief medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
  • Time to rest
  • Someone to support you if possible – now can be emotionally and physically demanding for you. Having someone with you to help you with practical things such as cooking, going to the supermarket, or chemist can be helpful. 
Illustrated icon of a heart

Recovery at home

Your doctor will advise you on how to take care of yourself after your miscarriage. Generally, you’ll be guided to:

  • Avoid sex for 2 weeks until the bleeding stops.
  • Avoid swimming or taking a bath until the bleeding stops.
  • Use sanitary pads instead of tampons.

 

When to see your doctor

In some cases, medical management may only partially work; some pregnancy tissue may be left behind. You must go back to your doctor or specialist if you:

  • Have a fever which may indicate an infection.
  • Are experiencing heavy bleeding for more than two weeks.

You should have a general follow-up appointment with your doctor or specialist 4-6 weeks after your miscarriage to check how you are going.

What happens if I haven’t passed all the pregnancy tissue?

Your doctor or specialist will order further tests to work out whether you may still have pregnancy tissue in your body causing the continued bleeding and/or pain. They will discuss with you the option of having surgical management. They may also suggest retaking medical management treatment.

Last Updated: October 20th, 2022