What tests and treatments can I get and when?

The NHS follows guidelines that say your GP will refer you to a doctor who specialises in miscarriage after you have had 3 early miscarriages (recurrent miscarriage) or 1 second trimester loss (late miscarriage).

Tommy’s-funded miscarriage clinics follow NHS guidelines too and you will need a referral from your GP before they accept you as a patient.

If you have had 1 or 2 early miscarriages, it is very unlikely that you will be referred to a specialist to find out why it happened. But there may be some things your GP can do to help you make sure you are as healthy as possible before you try again. 

This can be upsetting and feel unfair. But try to keep in mind that most miscarriages are a one-off and there is a good chance of having a successful pregnancy in the future.  

Some hospitals may be able to investigate after 2 miscarriages, so it is worth talking to your GP about how you are feeling and ask to be referred.

At Tommy's we believe 3 miscarriages is too many to suffer before any treatment or investigations and that's why we are calling for a change in policy.

Do these guidelines for referral include all types of losses?

Some people consider losses such as ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy as a miscarriage. This is completely understandable, as these pregnancies end in loss.

But you may not be referred to a miscarriage specialist after 3 miscarriages that include these types of losses. For example, if you’ve had 1 ectopic pregnancy and 2 miscarriages where the cause was unknown, you may not be accepted for specialist miscarriage care in some areas.

This can be upsetting. But it is because we know what causes ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy, so further tests are not medically necessary.

Again, it is still worth talking to your GP about getting referred for specialist care if you have experienced other types of pregnancy loss. 

If you’ve had an ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy before, you should be offered an extra scan at 6 to 8 weeks in your next pregnancy to check that the baby is developing in the right place.

Find out more about your care after 1 or 2 miscarriages.

Find out more about your care after 3 miscarriages

Find out more about getting a referral to a miscarriage specialist.

Your mental health

Miscarriage, tests and treatments can all be stressful. We are here to help you.

You can talk to a Tommy’s midwife for free, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. You can call them on 0800 0147 800 or email [email protected]. All our midwives will be able to talk to you about what you’re going through.

Find out more about what other support is available.

Royal College of Obstetricians &Gynaecologists. An ectopic pregnancy. https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-all-patient-information-leaflets/ectopic-pregnancy-patient-information-leaflet/

Review dates
Reviewed: 22 February 2024
Next review: 22 February 2027