The risk of miscarriage can occur in every pregnancy. One of the most common treatments is curettage. However, miscarriage without curettage or curettage can also be performed for certain conditions.
Miscarriage is the spontaneous death of a baby before entering 20 weeks of gestation. Not only has a physical impact, miscarriage can also affect the psychology of every woman who experiences it.
There are various causes of miscarriage, ranging from chromosomal abnormalities that cause fetal growth to stop, exposure to toxins, certain infections or diseases, physical abnormalities or excess weight in pregnant women, to being too young or too old during pregnancy.
Does Every Miscarriage Have Curettage?
Pregnant women sometimes do not realize that they have miscarried. However, there are actually several signs that could signal a miscarriage, including:
- Lower back pain
- Appears spots (blood spots) or tissue that comes out of the vagina
- Stomach pain that feels like cramps
- Vaginal bleeding
- Fever
- Body feels weak
If there are signs of miscarriage, the doctor will perform a physical examination and ultrasound to confirm the condition of the pregnant woman. If the results of the examination show that the pregnant woman did have a miscarriage, the doctor will perform a curettage or curettage.
Curettage or About 50 percent of pregnant women who miscarry generally do not need to undergo curettage. However, a miscarriage without a curettage is only allowed if the entire contents of the uterus have been expelled and there is no fetal tissue or placenta left in the uterus. This type of miscarriage is known as a complete abortion.
Generally, when the gestational age is less than 10 weeks, the fetal tissue or placenta left in the uterus will come out naturally within 1 or 2 weeks. This process can also be assisted by the administration of drugs by a doctor, if deemed necessary.
If a miscarriage occurs after 10 weeks of gestation, the remaining fetal tissue is more at risk of being left in the uterus. Therefore, a curettage or curettage procedure is needed to remove it.
In addition to cleaning your uterus of the remaining fetal tissue and placenta, a curette aims to stop bleeding and prevent infection.
Treatment After Miscarriage
After undergoing the curettage or curettage process, you will need someone to accompany and accompany you home. You may experience mild cramping in your stomach and some vaginal bleeding over the next few days. However, you don't need to worry because this is normal.
The following are some of the things you need to do after having a curettage:
1. Get enough rest
Try not to engage in strenuous activity for at least 24 hours after the curettage, although most women can return to their activities immediately within a few days. However, the thing you need to remember, avoid doing activities that make you too tired.
2. Take painkillers
You may experience abdominal cramps and light bleeding for a few days to 2 weeks after the curettage procedure. Usually, the doctor will give you medicine, such as ibuprofen, to help relieve the pain that appears.
3. Avoid having sex
After undergoing curettage, you are advised not to have sex for at least 2 weeks until the bleeding is complete. You are also not advised to insert any object into the vagina, for example sex toys or menstrual cup.
4. Avoid using tampons
It is also not recommended to use tampons until you have your period again. Usually, menstruation will be experienced again within 2-6 weeks after the curettage procedure is performed.
In addition to performing some of the treatment steps above, you also need to be alert if you experience the following symptoms:
- Bleeding lasts more than 2 weeks or bleeding profusely
- Stomach cramps for more than 2 weeks
- Body feels very weak or dizzy
- Fever
- Vaginal discharge that smells bad
If there are any of the above symptoms, you need to immediately see a doctor so that treatment can be carried out quickly and appropriately.
Keeping Pregnancy Healthy
Miscarriage is generally a condition that is not completely preventable, either miscarriage without curettage or with curettage. However, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Some of these efforts include:
- Consumption of nutritious foods that are rich in content
- Regular light exercise during pregnancy, but you should first consult your obstetrician regarding the right exercise according to the conditions of your pregnancy.
- Take care of your weight so you are not too skinny or fat.
- Limit caffeine intake.
- Stay away from cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid activities that can cause injury or pressure on your stomach.
Miscarriage can be dangerous for pregnant women. Therefore, always keep yourself and your fetus healthy during pregnancy. Call your obstetrician immediately if you experience bleeding, vaginal discharge, cramping and abdominal pain, or if you feel a decrease in fetal movement.