Recurrent pregnancy loss
Some couples experience infertility as both delayed conception and recurrent miscarriage. Also often called recurrent miscarriage, it is a condition that is defined as two or more consecutive clinical pregnancy losses before 20 weeks gestation.
Schedule an AppointmentWhat is recurrent miscarriage?
A miscarriage occurs whenever a pregnancy ends from natural causes before the 20th week of pregnancy. Miscarriages commonly occur in the first few days or weeks in the pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant.
Women suffering multiple and consecutive miscarriages are diagnosed with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), defined as two or more miscarriages in the first trimester or early second trimester.
What causes recurrent miscarriage?
Many factors may lead to this diagnosis, including:
- Genetics conditions: Miscarriages occurring within the first 3 months of pregnancy are often due to genetic abnormalities in the embryo or fetus.
- Anatomic problems: The shape and size of a person’s uterus may affect their ability to carry a pregnancy. If a person’s uterus is too small due to a septum (a band of tissue formed inside the uterus), or if fibroids are present in or around the uterus, a miscarriage may result.
- Medical conditions: There are many medical conditions not directly related to a person’s reproductive health that could lead to miscarriages, including thyroid disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, certain immune system conditions, and blood-clotting conditions.
- Lifestyle factors: Smoking, certain recreational drugs, excessive alcohol, excessive caffeine, and being overweight are all linked to an increased risk of recurrent miscarriage.
- Age: Although the overall incidence of miscarriage is 1 in 4 pregnancies, or 25 percent, this rate increases as a person with female reproductive organs ages. The rate of miscarriage climbs to 50 percent or higher for people over the age of 40.
Symptoms of miscarriage
Signs of a miscarriage can include:
- Vaginal spotting or bleeding.
- Cramping or abdominal pain.
- Fluid or tissue passing from the vagina.
Although vaginal bleeding is a common symptom when a woman has a miscarriage, many pregnant women have spotting early in their pregnancy but do not miscarry. But, pregnant women who have symptoms such as bleeding should contact their health care provider immediately.
How recurrent miscarriage affects fertility
Women who have miscarriages can and often do conceive again and have healthy pregnancies.
Due to the nature of recurrent pregnancy loss, many people may not immediately seek help to treat this condition, as they are able to conceive. However, it’s important that a physician helps address the underlying cause of the miscarriages.
Diagnostic testing for recurrent miscarriage
Your medical history, a pelvic exam, and one or more of the tests listed below are necessary for diagnosing possible causes of recurring miscarriages:
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): A procedure that uses x-rays to evaluate the shape of your uterus and a special dye injected into your Fallopian tubes to see if they are open or blocked.
- Hysteroscopy: A procedure in which your doctor uses a narrow fiber-optic telescope inserted into the uterus to look inside your uterine cavity.
- Ultrasound: A scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to identify anatomic concerns.
- Blood hormone levels: Blood tests that reveal the levels of certain hormones in your blood, such as prolactin, thyroid, and progesterone.
- Karyotype: A mapping of your chromosomes used to diagnose genetic defects.
Fertility treatment options for recurrent miscarriage
Treatment options vary by cause for recurrent miscarriage, as there are many factors that may lead to this diagnosis, including genetic, anatomic, and medical conditions, as well as lifestyle factors. At RSC, we offer a range of personalized fertility treatments, including:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT): This allows the medical team to screen all available embryos and determine which have abnormalities and which are cytogenetically normal.
- Donor egg: While the person’s eggs may be decreasing in quality, their uterus is often still able to carry a healthy pregnancy to term.
Our specialists will work closely with you to determine the best approach, combining medical expertise with compassionate care.
Take control of your fertility journey
Recurrent pregnancy loss doesn’t have to stand in the way of your dreams of parenthood. At RSC, we’re committed to helping you understand your condition, explore your options, and take confident steps forward.
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