About 3 percent of women who have a first-trimester miscarriage develop an infection during the post-miscarriage recovery period. Although an infection is easily treated, it's important to know the signs so that you can seek medical attention if you suspect you may have an infection.
Fever
Call your doctor if you have a fever over 100 degrees F following a miscarriage. Chills may or may not accompany the fever.
Severe Pain
Although pain can be a common side effect of miscarriage, the pain should not be severe. Always consult with a doctor if you are having severe pain in your lower back or abdomen.
Odorous Vaginal Discharge
A fishy-smelling vaginal odor almost always means infection.
Treatment
If your doctor determines that you do have an infection, the most likely treatment will be antibiotics.
When to Seek Treatment
If you have any suspicion that you might have an infection, seek treatment. Post-miscarriage infections can be fatal, and although this is rare, it's best to err on the side of caution and let your doctor make the call on whether or not you need antibiotics
Prevention
Infections cannot always be prevented, but following your doctor's instructions to avoid bathing and inserting anything into the vagina for a week or two following a miscarriage will reduce your risk. This also usually means abstaining from sexual intercourse for a week or two.
Tags: your doctor, , following miscarriage