How To Tell the Difference Between an Early Miscarriage and Your Period

The most common signs of early miscarriage are cramping and bleeding, but those symptoms are also common with menstruation. Here's how to tell the difference.

The possibility of miscarriage is a common pregnancy worry, which is fair given that about 15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies end in loss. The vast majority of miscarriages (around 80%) happen in the first trimester, some of which occur right around the time of the person's expected period.

The signs of miscarriage often include vaginal bleeding or spotting. If these symptoms happen close enough to your expected period—or if you haven't received a positive pregnancy test yet—you might wonder whether you're experiencing a miscarriage or have just gotten your period.

So how can you tell the difference between an early miscarriage and your period? We break down everything you need to know about miscarriages vs. periods.

Potential Signs of Miscarriage

Parents / Melissa Ling 

Miscarriage Bleeding vs. Period Bleeding

Determining whether bleeding is caused by an early miscarriage or your period can be tricky, especially since miscarriage bleeding doesn't always look the same.

What Does Miscarriage Blood Look Like?

The appearance of miscarriage blood can vary. Miscarriage bleeding may start out as light pink or red spotting or brownish discharge. As the bleeding gets heavier, it can be anywhere from bright red to dark brown and may contain clots and other tissue.

Here are some common characteristics of miscarriage bleeding to help you spot the difference:

  • Timing: A miscarriage can occur any time after fertilization. The earlier the miscarriage (i.e., the closer it is to your expected or missed period), the more likely it is to be mistaken for a period—especially if you haven't tested or gotten a positive pregnancy test result.
  • Duration: Like a period, miscarriage bleeding typically starts lighter and gets heavier as it progresses but the bleeding associated with miscarriage also tends to get heavier than a typical period and often lasts longer. Bleeding associated with miscarriage may also stop and start.
  • Color: Miscarriage blood can be light pink, red, or brown. It might resemble your period or look like grainy coffee grounds.
  • Texture: If the loss occurs early in the pregnancy, there may be minimal clotting, but the farther the pregnancy has progressed, the clots might be denser and larger and you might notice tissue that you don't normally see with a period.
  • Other symptoms: Your period might come with predictable symptoms like cramping, sore breasts, and bloating. On the other hand, a miscarriage is often characterized by bleeding or pain.

Tip

The further along the pregnancy at the time of the loss, the less period-like the miscarriage will be and the less likely it will be mistaken for a period.

Signs and Symptoms of a Miscarriage

Not all people who experience pregnancy loss will have noticeable symptoms. That said, the signs of a miscarriage can include the following:

  • Vaginal bleeding or spotting
  • Passing tissue from the vagina
  • Gush of fluid from the vagina
  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Backache
  • Loss of pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness
  • Nausea or diarrhea

It's important to note that spotting in early pregnancy is common and often benign. But while bleeding doesn't always mean miscarriage, it's important to have it checked out. Generally speaking, if the bleeding is light and lasts for only a day or two, it's probably not a problem. Heavier bleeding and passing clots or tissue is another matter, particularly if it's accompanied by cramping.

What Is a Chemical Pregnancy?

Very early miscarriage (also known as chemical pregnancy) occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation. This typically results in bleeding around the time of your expected period that doesn't last much longer than your usual period. As a result, it's possible that what you think was a late or especially heavy period could be an early miscarriage.

What Causes a Miscarriage?

Among the miscarriages that occur in the first trimester, about half result from a chromosomal abnormality. These genetic abnormalities prevent the embryo from developing properly. In these cases, the miscarriage doesn't happen because you did anything "wrong"—it was simply the result of an abnormality.

In the second trimester, chromosomal and structural abnormalities of the fetus can contribute to miscarriage. But at this stage, a miscarriage is more commonly associated with other problems, such as malformation of the uterus, the development of growths in the uterus (called fibroids), uterine infection, and certain medical conditions.

Other factors can cause or contribute to miscarriage, including:

  • Bacterial infections that can inflame the lining of the uterus
  • Certain chronic medical conditions like unmanaged diabetes and thyroid problems
  • Excessive drug or alcohol use
  • Hormone problems
  • Immune system disorders, including lupus
  • Older parental age (chromosomal abnormalities are more likely to occur in the eggs and sperm of people over 35)
  • Smoking
  • Certain medicines
  • Severe malnutrition
  • Significant radiation exposure

When To See the Doctor

You should contact a health care provider any time you experience sudden or unexplained pain or vaginal bleeding. That is especially true if there is a chance that you may be pregnant. Depending on your symptoms and health history, your provider may want to see you in the office or they may direct you to the emergency room.

Be prepared to answer questions about your health history and symptoms, such as:

  • What your symptoms are and when they started
  • Whether you've taken an at-home pregnancy test (and if so, when and what the result was)
  • When the first day of your last menstrual period was
  • The amount, color, and characteristics of the bleeding, if applicable
  • The location and type of pain, if applicable

Seek emergency medical care if you're experiencing heavy vaginal bleeding accompanied by severe abdominal pain or dizziness as these could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, which should be treated as a life-threatening medical emergency.

Tip

Is it possible to experience symptoms of miscarriage and still have a viable pregnancy (known as a threatened miscarriage), but there is no way to stop or reverse a miscarriage that is already in progress and certain pregnancies (like ectopic pregnancies) are never viable.

What To Expect at the Doctor's Office or Hospital

When you see a health care provider for signs of miscarriage, you can expect a urine- or blood-based pregnancy test to check for the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone that is only produced during pregnancy. You may also receive an ultrasound to check the uterus, fallopian tubes, and surrounding area for signs of a pregnancy.

If tests indicate that you're pregnant, your health care provider will try to determine whether you've miscarried. A follow-up blood test to check hCG levels or ultrasound may be needed to officially diagnose miscarriage.

If you have miscarried, your health care provider will discuss treatment options, which can include expectant management (waiting and allowing the miscarriage to follow its natural course), medication, or a dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure. You may also wish to seek support or counseling, as miscarriage can bring about challenging emotions from sadness or anger to confusion or relief.

Key Takeaways

If you think you're having a miscarriage, call your doctor immediately or go to your nearest emergency room. This is especially true if the bleeding is heavy, the pain is severe, or you're experiencing dizziness. Even if your symptoms aren't severe, avoid sex and strenuous activity until you’ve been fully evaluated by a health care provider and given the all-clear.

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss. The Lancet. 2021.

  2. Early Pregnancy Loss. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2018.

  3. Early Pregnancy Loss: Frequently Asked Questions. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2023.

  4. Early Pregnancy Loss. American Academy of Family Physicians. Updated 2023.

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