In plain words
Retained products of conception are pieces of pregnancy tissue, such as placenta or membranes, that stay in the uterus after a pregnancy ends. They can happen after a , an abortion, or a birth. The main signs are bleeding that continues or returns, cramping, and sometimes fever or a bad smell. Some pieces pass on their own over time. Others need a clinician to check them and, if needed, remove them. Infection is the main risk if tissue stays in place. Heavy bleeding, soaked pads in a short time, fever, chills, or need care right away, and fainting or bleeding that will not slow is a call to 911. Lighter bleeding that lasts longer than expected is worth a call to your provider today.
The deeper version
Retained products of conception (RPOC) is tissue remaining in the uterine cavity after miscarriage, termination, or delivery. It is identified by ultrasound, pathology, or clinical signs of bleeding and infection. Management options include expectant care, medical management with misoprostol, and surgical evacuation. The MIST trial (Trinder and colleagues, BMJ 2006) compared expectant, medical, and surgical management of miscarriage in the UK, and found that complication and retained-tissue rates differed by route. Infection was uncommon with all three approaches. The debate concerns the balance between expectant and procedural care, with patient preference and risk tolerance shaping shared decisions.
Where it comes up
- Your body and heart after a miscarriageLoss and Complications
- Afterpains: cramping while nursingPostpartum: Your Body
- Postpartum bleeding (lochia): what's normal, what's notPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about retained products of conception
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Sources
- Trinder J, Brocklehurst P, Porter R, et al. — Management of miscarriage: expectant, medical, or surgical? Results of randomised controlled trial (MIST). BMJ (2006)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 200: Early Pregnancy Loss (2018)