03/02/2026
Recently, we have been receiving several messages in our DM related to retained fetal bones from a miscarriage or an abortion.
We thought to share this post as a reminder.
Retained fetal bones occur when the bones of a fetus (baby) are inadvertently left inside the womb cavity. This can occur from a termination of a pregnancy (abortion) or following fetal death requiring an evacuation. It usually occurs if the pregnancy develops beyond three months (after the first trimester). These bones remain and act like intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD, commonly called "coil"), thereby preventing pregnancy. They may present with no signs or symptoms. Sometimes, they present with persistent vaginal discharge. A common method of establishing a diagnosis is by ultrasound scan. This may present with "hyperechogenic' areas with 'acoustic shadows' within the womb cavity. Some might report it as 'ENDOMETRIAL OSSEOUS METAPLASIA' or 'ENDOMETRIAL CALCIFICATION'. The longest we have come across at Gynescope had been in the woman's womb for 16 years, causing infertility. The BEST way to get rid of the bones is via HYSTEROSCOPY. Hysteroscopy ensures that each bone is painstakingly removed, as shown in the video. A blind attempt at removing the bones may push them further inside the womb muscle, making it more challenging to treat hysteroscopically. If the couple has no other cause of infertility, they should achieve pregnancy after the procedure.