A decidual cast can occur regardless of whether someone is pregnant. A person must be pregnant for pregnancy loss to occur.
However, symptoms associated with both conditions can overlap. Both may include a person passing tissue from the vagina. They may also come with intense pain and vaginal bleeding.
An individual who could be pregnant and experiences symptoms of a decidual cast should seek emergency medical assistance. Decidual casts can mimic other, more serious conditions that require immediate care. For example, an ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening.