How Quickly Can You Miscarry

During pregnancy, miscarriages are undoubtedly a fear on many women's minds. It's a scary and traumatic event, and you may not be prepared for the physical or emotional damage a miscarriage can cause. A miscarriage can occur as early as the first trimester, but more specifically, prior to the eight week gestational age. That means an ultrasound can diagnose a miscarriage if you're around eight weeks pregnant, but it then takes two to four weeks to actually miscarry.

If you're around seven or eight weeks pregnant and your ultrasound shows a healthy fetus, the likelihood of miscarrying decreases dramatically. It's highly unlikely to miscarry after your first trimester. While it is still technically possible, it is not something to stress about. Keep in mind that if you've had any vaginal bleeding during your first trimester, you are more likely to miscarry than if bleeding was not present.

While you can't prevent a miscarriage in most cases, it's also important to note that nothing you do can cause a miscarriage. Miscarriages are usually caused by a one-time genetic defect in the embryo, either because the sperm or egg was abnormal. This is a common cause of miscarriage because of the fact that all men and women produce some amount of abnormal sperm and eggs. In a small number of women, miscarriages are caused by a progesterone deficiency. In these rare cases, the miscarriage can actually be treated. However, in the vast majority of miscarriages, you cannot prevent them and you cannot do anything to cause them to occur.