Comparing options

The early pregnancy loss team can help guide you in choosing how to manage your miscarriage, based on your needs and physician's recommendations.

Spontaneous miscarriage

Advantages	Disadvantages	Success rate (approximate)
non-invasive your body naturally expels the non-viable pregnancy no anesthesia or surgery risks allows for your privacy you can be at home with your support people	unpredictable outcome and timeframe most spontaneous miscarriages take two to four weeks to complete you may have prolonged bleeding and cramping you may still need interventions	85% - 91% when a miscarriage has already started 76% when the miscarriage has not started yet 66% with anembryonic pregnancies

Medical management

Advantages	Disadvantages	Success rate (approximate)
non-invasive, safe and effective no anesthesia or surgery risks allows for your privacy you can be at home with your support people	may cause heavier or longer bleeding may cause short-term gastrointestinal side effects you may still need a dilation and curettage if your body does not expel all of the pregnancy tissue	99% when a miscarriage has already started 88% when the miscarriage has not started yet 81% with anembryonic pregnancies

Dilation and curettage in a doctor's office

Advantages	Disadvantages	Success rate (approximate)
predictable and fast less likely to need further treatment pain control with local, oral or IV medication	rare risks associated with invasive procedure fewer pain control options in some settings you will need someone to drive you home afterward	98%

Dilation and curettage in an operating room

Advantages	Disadvantages	Success rate (approximate)
predictable and fast less likely to need further treatment you can be asleep during the procedure	rare risks associated with invasive procedure and anesthesia costs more than an office-based dilation and curettage takes longer than an office-based dilation and curettage risk for more bleeding complications you will need someone to drive you home afterward	98%