Surgical Management of Miscarriage: What to Expect?
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Kate Marsh, Tommy’s Co-Midwifery Manager and Policy Officer and Health Visitor Lead – Genomics, NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service and Jules Woodall, Tommy’s Midwife and Early Pregnancy Specialist Midwife, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Written by Clare Foster, Senior Health Information Manager, Tommy's. Trusted health information certified under the PIF TICK. Last reviewed: February 2024.
If you have a missed or incomplete miscarriage, doctors will need to make sure the remains of your baby and pregnancy tissue don’t stay in your womb. This is sometimes called management of miscarriage. Surgical management is one way they can do this. You should be given all the options so you can make a decision that is right for you. Making this decision may be the last thing you want to do right now. Or you may want to decide quickly and move forwards.
Miscarriage Support
There are various resources available for support during and after miscarriage:
- Miscarriage Support tool
- Wellbeing after Miscarriage programme
- About miscarriage
- Types of miscarriage
- Options and decisions
- Support after miscarriage
- Test and treatments
- Pregnancy after miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Molar pregnancy
- Terminating for medical reasons
Baby Loss Support
For broader baby loss support, the following resources are available:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Neonatal death
For stillbirth support:
- Causes and risk factors
- Giving birth to a stillborn baby
- Emotional support after stillbirth
- Practical support after stillbirth
- Pregnancy after stillbirth
For neonatal death support:
- Your body after neonatal death
- Emotional support after neonatal death
- Practical support after neonatal death
- Pregnancy after neonatal death
- Health professionals
- Dads and partners
- Baby loss stories
Research and Clinics
Tommy's is involved in significant research and offers specialist clinics:
Research Centres
- National Centre for Miscarriage Research
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre
- National Centre for Preterm Birth Research
- National Centre for Maternity Improvement
Specialist Clinics
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth and pregnancy complications
- Premature birth
Research Projects
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Premature birth
You can also find information on:
- How we fund research
- Impact of our centres and clinics
- Get involved with our research
- Research news
Pregnancy Information
Comprehensive pregnancy information is available, covering various stages and aspects:
Planning a Pregnancy
- Planning for pregnancy tool
- Ovulation calculator
- Ready to conceive?
- Getting pregnant
- Fertility
- Health conditions
- Mental health and wellbeing
Being Pregnant
- Personalised pregnancy support
- Due date calculator
- Pregnancy week by week
- Health and wellbeing
- Antenatal care
- Pregnancy and work
- Complications
- Symptom checker
Giving Birth
- Preparing for birth
- Your choices
- Signs of labour
- C-sections
- Premature birth
After the Birth
- Your new baby
- Sleep
- Feeding
- Your body
- Your wellbeing
- Health professionals
- Helpline for Black women
- Dads and partners
- Pregnancy stories
- Talk to a midwife
Get Involved
Support the cause by getting involved in various ways:
Donate
- Give a regular gift
- In-Memory Sky
- Leave a gift in your Will
- Other ways to donate
- How your money helps
Find an Event
- Run for charity
- Cycle, walk or swim
- Treks, challenges, ultras
- Other challenges
Do Your Own Fundraising
- Tea for Tommy's
- Walk for Hope
- Fundraising tips
Campaign for Change
- Second trimester loss
- Preventing a lifetime of loss
Volunteer
- Volunteer at events
- Take part in research trial
- Philanthropy and trusts
Corporate Support
- Workplace training
- Partnerships
- Donate sales
- Pay in your fundraising
- Shop