Will an empty sac naturally miscarry?

Written by Zhao Su Min
Obstetrics
Updated on May 22, 2025
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An empty sac does not necessarily lead to a natural miscarriage. Miscarriages are classified into incomplete miscarriage, complete miscarriage, and missed miscarriage. Some people might experience abdominal pain and bleeding after the cessation of development in an empty sac, leading to a miscarriage. Others may retain the dead embryo in the uterine cavity, which is unable to be expelled in a timely manner, manifesting as the disappearance of early pregnancy symptoms, vaginal bleeding, or no symptoms at all, often being discovered during an examination. If the embryo has ceased development for a relatively long period, waiting for a natural miscarriage is not recommended. If the embryo is not expelled for a long time, there may be risks such as the embryo becoming tightly connected to the uterine wall, making dilation and curettage difficult. Additionally, there may be risks of coagulation dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

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Spontaneous abortion embryonic pathological examination

After a natural miscarriage, pathological tests can be performed on the embryonic tissue. The main purposes of these tests include the following two aspects: First, to check if the chorionic villi in the embryonic tissue are edematous or if it is a hydatidiform mole. In cases of natural miscarriage, if it is a hydatidiform mole, it is necessary to determine whether it is a benign or malignant hydatidiform mole. If it is not a hydatidiform mole, it can be treated as a regular miscarriage. Secondly, testing the embryo can clarify the reasons for the miscarriage, such as checking the chromosomes of the embryo to determine if there are any issues with the chromosomes, which can be informative for the next pregnancy.

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Do the symptoms of spontaneous miscarriage include bleeding?

During a natural miscarriage, vaginal bleeding occurs. This is because, after a miscarriage, the gestational sac and shed uterine lining also need to be expelled from the body, resulting in vaginal bleeding. Typically, this bleeding lasts about a week, gradually diminishing until it stops. If vaginal bleeding after a natural miscarriage persists for an extended period, even exceeding ten days without stopping, and is accompanied by abdominal pain, it is necessary to visit the hospital for an ultrasound to check for any remnants within the uterine cavity and possibly undergo a dilation and curettage procedure.

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Written by Yue Hua
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How many days does the lochia last after a natural miscarriage?

Natural miscarriage generally cleans up the lochia in about a week. This is because natural miscarriage refers to the process where the embryo flows out from the uterine cavity on its own. Most people can completely clear out after a natural miscarriage, so the amount of bleeding is generally not very much, and the bleeding duration is not very long. If it is not clean after a week, it is necessary to consider whether it has not been completely cleared, and it is best to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to see if there are any issues with the uterus. Additionally, it is essential to rest and reduce activities after a natural miscarriage.

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Can a natural miscarriage be completely cleared?

After a natural miscarriage, whether it can be completely cleared varies from individual to individual. Some women may have a complete miscarriage naturally. However, some people may have existing gynecological inflammation or be relatively weak, which can lead to incomplete miscarriage, necessitating further uterine cleaning. After the miscarriage, women should closely monitor their vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Normally, after such a miscarriage, abdominal pain should last about two to three days, and vaginal bleeding should clear up within a week. If vaginal bleeding persists for a longer time and abdominal pain occurs, the possibility of residual materials in the uterine cavity should be considered, and it is advised to go to the hospital for further ultrasound examination and subsequent treatment as needed.

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How long does it take for the lochia to clear after a natural miscarriage?

Generally, lochia can be cleared within a week after a natural miscarriage occurs. The duration of lochia discharge during a natural miscarriage is also related to the length of pregnancy. If the miscarriage occurs during a later stage of pregnancy, there may be a longer period of vaginal bleeding because the endometrium is thicker, potentially requiring about ten days. Typically, it will clear within a week, and it should not last more than ten days at most. It is advised for women to undergo a medical examination at a hospital two weeks after a natural miscarriage, at which time the recovery of the uterus and any remaining tissues can be assessed. After such a miscarriage, it is important to rest, enhance nutrition, and abstain from intercourse for a month.