Recurrent Miscarriage: Causes & Options

The loss of a pregnancy is a serious occurrence, both physically and emotionally. It is also extremely common. It is estimated that 10 to 20% of people who know they are pregnant will experience miscarriage. (Another large group of people will miscarry without ever knowing they were pregnant; some estimate that this brings the average up to about 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in miscarriage.)

Recurrent miscarriage is a term used when pregnancy loss has occurred twice in a row. Unfortunately, each time the body miscarries, that makes it somewhat more likely that the next pregnancy may miscarry as well. But it is important to remember that the majority of women who experience 1 or even 2 miscarriages will go on to have healthy, live births.

Your providers at Summit Women’s Health are here to help you navigate this time—again, both physically and emotionally. If you have experienced one or more miscarriages, your provider will want to meet with you to make sure your health is being cared for.

If you are experiencing recurrent miscarriage, your provider will also likely recommend that you engage in one or more tests. Read on to learn more about options for identifying causes and seeking next steps:

Medical History

You and your provider may discuss the medical histories for yourself, your partner, and both your families. Clues to miscarriage causes may be found in certain diseases or conditions that are present in your family trees.

Pelvic Exam

As with annual checkups, it is important to make sure the vagina and uterus are not showing any anatomic abnormalities, such as polyps or cysts. Your provider will conduct a pelvic exam to check for signs of these issues.

Glucose Screening

A glucose screening can reveal whether the body may be experiencing symptoms of diabetes, which can increase chances of miscarriage.

Blood Hormone Test

Hormones are very important to the conception and pregnancy processes. A blood test can reveal levels of important hormones such as progesterone, prolactin, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

Karyotyping

This test maps the chromosomes of those partnering to conceive, in order to detect any genetic abnormalities in your DNA.

Ovarian Reserve Testing

Your provider can run tests to identify the quantity and health of eggs in the ovaries. Ovarian function can have an impact on pregnancy success.

Vaginal Ultrasound

Your provider can use an ultrasound machine to examine the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, looking for any abnormalities. This exam can also be performed with sterile water flushed into the uterine cavity, to help reveal any fibroids or scar tissue that could be increasing chances of miscarriage.

Endometrial Biopsy

This procedure removes a very small amount of tissue from the endometrium—the lining of the uterus—to test it for any infections that could be preventing a pregnancy’s progression.

As shown by this wide array of tests, procedures, and exams, there are many, many causes of miscarriage. In fact, there are even more causes that cannot be tested for; this situation is referred to as “unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.” Even in this case, there are options for treatments and medicines that can decrease the chances of miscarriage in the next pregnancy.

Of course, if there is a cause to be identified, your Summit Women’s Health provider will work closely with you to find out what it is and help you address it. But no matter the cause, book an appointment to talk to your provider about your options for moving forward with your pregnancy journey.