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Proudly part of the City Fertility Network
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. It is a distressing and heartbreaking experience, leaving many with unanswered questions and grief. Miscarriage, a term that carries both emotional and physical weight, is surprisingly common. In fact, up to one in five women will experience a miscarriage in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy, with most of these occurring in the first 12 weeks. While the symptoms can vary, most women experience cramping, period-like pain, and vaginal bleeding.
Understanding miscarriage is the first step in supporting yourself or someone you care about during this challenging experience.
While pregnancy loss is usually a one-time occurrence, up to one in 20 couples will experience two miscarriages in a row, and one in 100 will have three or more consecutively. When women experience three or more consecutive miscarriages (known as recurrent miscarriage) we recommend testing to identify a cause. Testing is usually not offered after just one or two miscarriages.
Miscarriages can occur due to a variety of factors, including genetic abnormalities, hormonal imbalances and underlying health conditions. Research tells us that about half of all miscarriages happen because the chromosomes in the developing embryo are abnormal, and the pregnancy doesn’t develop properly from the start.
In this case, miscarriage is nature’s way of dealing with an abnormal embryo.
Nothing can be done to prevent miscarriage if a pregnancy is developing abnormally. However, there may be reasons why some women are at higher risk of experiencing a miscarriage:
Miscarriages are more common among older women than younger ones, largely because chromosomal abnormalities are more prevalent with increasing age. As a woman’s eggs get older they are more likely to be chromosomally abnormal. That’s why conception becomes more difficult, miscarriages are more common, and the risk of chromosomal conditions like down syndrome increases with age.
Miscarriages are also more common among women who smoke and those who have more than three alcoholic drinks a week in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Research suggests that miscarriage is also more common among women who drink more than 500mg of caffeine a day, or three to five cups of coffee.
Stress alone does not cause a miscarriage. There is no evidence linking stress to pregnancy loss.
Obesity will increase the risk of miscarriage. Obesity has been linked to a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and complications with diabetes and blood pressure.
Some medical conditions in the mother, such as uncontrolled diabetes, fibroids or thyroid problems, can lead to miscarriage. Rare medical conditions that affect blood clotting can also cause miscarriage. Women who have two consecutive miscarriages should be tested for these conditions.
Miscarriage can be a deeply distressing experience, and understanding its signs and associated risks can help you seek timely medical care. Whilst it is possible to miscarry without any signs or symptoms, there are a few common signs of miscarriage, including:
You should attempt another pregnancy only when you feel both physically and emotionally ready and have undergone any necessary investigations to determine the cause of miscarriage, if possible. Most clinicians will recommend women have a normal menstrual cycle before attempting a subsequent pregnancy.
While the medical focus may be on treating the physical causes of miscarriage, it’s equally important to take care of your emotional wellbeing.
At City Fertility, our compassionate team of counsellors and trained staff are here to support you through the emotional challenges of miscarriage and fertility concerns. Reach out to us today to take the first step toward healing and hope.
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