After a miscarriage diagnosis, most women face one of three types of miscarriage management – waiting for nature to take its course and the miscarriage to happen on its own, taking medication to expedite the miscarriage, or having a D&C.
In some cases, medical circumstances (such as a hemorrhage or an ectopic pregnancy) might dictate a particular miscarriage treatment, but women diagnosed with first-trimester miscarriage not involving an emergency sometimes can decide which option they would prefer.
Waiting for a miscarriage without intervention is an approach that doctors call “expectant management” and many women call a “natural miscarriage.”
Sometimes doctors favor D&Cs for all women diagnosed with a miscarriage, because the D&C ends the physical process of miscarriage much more quickly and has a lower risk of later complications. But whenever possible, having a choice can be important and for women who prefer to avoid intervention if possible, natural miscarriage may be a strong preference.
