Miscarriage and Fertility
See a fertility specialist now
We're a national network of over 100 fertility specialists.
All our specialists treat miscarriage and recurrent miscarriages.
It's a topic that's not often discussed, yet miscarriage happens in as
many as 25 percent of all pregnancies.
Miscarriage is a term that refers to the loss of a pregnancy within the
first 20 weeks, and it most often occurs in the first trimester. You may
also hear the term spontaneous abortion used to describe miscarriage.
According to Dr. Lisa Erickson
of The Center for Reproductive Medicine in
Minneapolis/St. Paul, there are other categories of miscarriage that
include inevitable, missed, and incomplete abortion.
In general, first trimester loss occurs for one of two reasons:
- A fetus that is not developing properly and/or
- A placenta that is not attaching to the uterine wall properly
There are numerous reasons for a pregnancy to begin and end so soon. It is
believed that the vast majority of these early losses are due to genetic
or chromosomal problems with the fetus.
Other possible causes are:
- Blighted ovum, a condition that is usually genetic in which the placental
sac may be developing without a fetus
- Uterine infection
- Certain medications taken by the mother (although this is a rare cause)
- Low hormone levels, particularly progesterone, which may signify an
unhealthy pregnancy at the start
- Structural abnormalities of the uterus
- Fibroid tumors
- Immune system dysfunction
The odds for miscarriage following assisted reproduction treatment depend
largely on the age of the woman. Says Dr. Erickson, "The higher the age,
the higher the risk for miscarriage. The miscarriage rate is not higher
for IVF than it is for anyone else getting pregnant, and is probably
actually lower with IVF because of the selection process." At The Center
for Reproductive Medicine, for example, the post-IVF miscarriage rate
starts at eight percent for women under age 35. See CRM's success rates on
their site.
If the pregnancy is nonviable, there is no intervention. When asked if
first trimester threatened miscarriages can be prevented, Erickson
comments, "Depends. Sometimes bedrest and progesterone supplementation can
help if indicated. A review of possible etiologies (causes) determines
additional treatment options."
The typical first sign of an impending miscarriage is spotting or cramping
after conception. Additionally, some women may notice diminished pregnancy
symptoms. Some women do not notice any symptoms at all and are unaware
that the pregnancy is nonviable at their first OB visit.
"Patients having bleeding and cramping want to know if their pregnancy is
healthy or not," adds Erickson, "and the medical profession may not be
able to stop the process, but we can provide information in a timely
manner." Miscarriage is confirmed through ultrasounds and hCG blood tests.
The good news -- experiencing one miscarriage usually has little to no
predictive value on future successful pregnancies. Reproductive
endocrinologists are not only expert in facilitating conception, but also
in helping women with recurrent pregnancy loss by providing the diagnostic
workup and possible treatment options.
See a fertility specialist now
We're a national network of over 100 fertility specialists.
All our specialists treat miscarriage and recurrent miscarriages.