Do you need a pelvic exam after a miscarriage?

We need to see you if you have any bleeding during pregnancy. We’ll do a pelvic exam. If we see that your cervix is opening (dilating), that means you are having a miscarriage. We may do or order an abdominal or pelvic ultrasound exam to see if your pregnancy is developing normally.

Can a pelvic exam detect a miscarriage?

Exams and Tests A miscarriage is diagnosed with: A pelvic exam, which allows the doctor to see whether the cervix is opening (dilating) or whether there is tissue or blood in the cervical opening or the vagina. A blood test, which checks the level of the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Is the cervix closed after a miscarriage?

If a miscarriage is in progress, the cervix is usually open and the pregnancy will not survive. If a miscarriage has already happened, the cervix can be either open or closed, depending on whether all the pregnancy tissue has passed out of the womb.

Is it normal to have pain after pelvic exam?

It’s totally normal for women to experience a little bit of discomfort following a pelvic exam, especially if it’s their first one. It’s also common for women after a pap test to have mild cramping and/or light bleeding for a couple of days after a pap test (smear).

Is it possible to miscarry and still be pregnant?

After a miscarriage, your hormones will not return to pre-pregnant levels right away, so there can be a period of time that you will still feel pregnant, even if you have just had a dilation and curettage (D&C).

Can you have false miscarriage and still be pregnant?

It is important to remember that with any medical issue, misdiagnosis is a theoretical possibility. Miscarriage is no exception. Technically, medical or laboratory errors could theoretically lead to misdiagnosis of pregnancy loss at any point in pregnancy—but this is extremely uncommon.

When should I take a pregnancy test after a miscarriage?

If the pain and bleeding have lessened or stopped completely during this time, this usually means the miscarriage has finished. You should be advised to take a home pregnancy test after 3 weeks.

When to perform a bimanual pelvic exam?

If the history is suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), perform a bimanual pelvic examination to identify cervical motion tenderness, adnexal tenderness, and abnormal masses.

Why do you need a pelvic exam during pregnancy?

The pelvic exam can aid in finding alternative diagnoses of bleeding other than miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy (i.e. cervical carcinoma, vaginal lacerations, etc…).

How to do a bimanual inspection of the uterus?

Place fingers in the posterior fornix to lift the uterus whilst simultaneously pushing the fundus down by placing the left hand above the symphysis pubis. Place the fingers in the lateral fornix and press lateral to the umbilicus to feel for any adnexal tenderness or masses (repeat on the other side)

When does a pregnant woman need a speculum exam?

The need for speculum examination should be assessed on a case by case basis depending on whether the findings on bimanual are conclusive. Vaginal bleeding is common in early pregnancy. Up to 20% of pregnant women will have vaginal spotting or heavier bleeding.