Diagnosing Miscarriage by Ultrasound

If you're concerned that you may be miscarrying, you may wonder how a miscarriage is diagnosed. How can ultrasound help to determine if you are having an early pregnancy versus a missed miscarriage, and what are the limits of this test in early pregnancy?

Diagnosing Miscarriage With Ultrasound

When administering an early ultrasound exam, such as during the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy, it can be hard for medical professionals to distinguish an early pregnancy from a missed miscarriage.

To avoid a misdiagnosis, doctors use specific guidelines to determine when ultrasound results may signal a miscarriage. For example, in a report by the Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada, researchers recommended that miscarriage is diagnosed if a trans-vaginal ultrasound reveals the following:

• Gestational sac is larger than 8mm and has no yolk sac
• Gestational sac is larger than 16mm and has no embryo
• No heartbeat in an embryo larger than 5 mm

In addition, if an earlier ultrasound revealed a fetal heartbeat and a subsequent ultrasound finds no heartbeat, this also indicates a miscarriage. Falling levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that's made during pregnancy) alongside an ultrasound that shows an empty gestational sac or no fetal heartbeat may also lead to a miscarriage diagnosis.

How Guidelines Vary

It's critical to note that different countries and different medical associations may vary in their exact approaches to the issue of distinguishing an early pregnancy from a missed miscarriage. And, of course, as scientific research on the topic evolves, guidelines may change.

The reason that guidelines such as these are important is that most pregnancy losses occur in the first trimester. In addition, there are several situations which can make it more difficult to make the distinction.

In other words, there are several situations which can increase the risk of a misdiagnosis. These can range from an inaccurate estimation of your due date to a vanishing twin, a condition in which one twin is miscarried while the other remains alive.

What If Your Ultrasound Is Uncertain?

In following the ultrasound guidelines for diagnosing a miscarriage, there will be many times when the ultrasound cannot conclusively say if you have an early pregnancy or a missed miscarriage. In order to avoid the possibility of a misdiagnosis, your doctor may recommend waiting and repeating an ultrasound in a week.

During this week, if you have a missed miscarriage instead of an early pregnancy, you may develop symptoms of a miscarriage. It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the most common signs and symptoms of an early miscarriage.

Calculating Miscarriage Risk

Calculating a mother's risk of pregnancy loss depends largely on her age. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the risk of miscarriage for women changes significantly with age.

If You Experience a Miscarriage

If you do experience a missed miscarriage, which can be extremely traumatic (both physically and emotionally), there are resources available that can help you and your partner get through this difficult period.

You can also check out online resources like Miscarriage Matters, a site run by a charitable organization that offers online live chats. 

Miscarriage Resources

If you're just hearing about missed miscarriages and more, you may be feeling confused about all of the terminology used to describe miscarriages, for example, terms such as a blighted ovum, a chemical pregnancy, a molar pregnancy, and more. Ask questions. If you don't understand something your obstetrician is saying, ask her to explain it in a different way.

Here are some answers to the questions people often ask with first trimester miscarriages but write down any questions you have so that you remember to ask. Answers won't bring back a baby lost to miscarriage but may help you as you cope in the weeks and months to follow.