Around 12-15% of all pregnancies end up in a miscarriage during the first three months, and it is usually not a big concern if it happens once or twice. However, recurrent miscarriages (the loss of more than two pregnancies) could indicate an underlying problem with either the mother’s health or the genetic make-up of the embryos.
Early miscarriages at 6-8 weeks are mostly caused due to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryos, which may be attributed to poor sperm or egg quality.
Women who have had two or more miscarriages, are at a higher risk of having another pregnancy loss in the future.
Around 5 percent of women will have 2 consecutive pregnancy losses but only 1 percent are expected to have more than 3. If you’ve experienced 2 or more recurrent miscarriages, it is imperative that you set up an appointment with an infertility expert to understand what is going on and possibly suggest an effective solution.
Your doctor will do some basic tests, check your overall health, and also examine your uterine lining to see if they can catch any possible reason for your recurrent pregnancy losses. Sometimes, the miscarriage is attributed to the shape or size of your uterus or an overactive maternal immune system.
Diagnosis for the reasons of recurrent miscarriages will involve hormonal tests, immunological testing, genetic testing of both parents, HSG to check for structural abnormalities, and endometrial receptivity assay.
Sometimes, the doctor can also check the pregnancy products such as the placenta, fetus, and maternal tissues to look for causes of the miscarriage.
Once the correct reason for your recurrent miscarriages is determined, there will be a clear way forward – either with some medications, corrective health measures, or with donor gametes.
Miscarriages are painful, but with the right support and medical care, you should be able to find your way to a healthy pregnancy.