Causes of Recurrent Miscarriages

It can be a difficult topic to address but one that remains on some women’s minds.

There are so many emotions that a woman experiences after going through a miscarriage, and it can be even more challenging if you’ve had to deal with multiple miscarriages. Of course, your OBGYN is always here to provide you with the care and support you need through this difficult time. Find out more about the causes behind multiple miscarriages and the treatment options available to you.

A recurrent miscarriage means having three or more miscarriages in a row. Common risk factors for recurrent miscarriages include:

  • Being older when trying to conceive (For women this is over the age of 35 while it’s over the age of 40 for men)
  • Being overweight or obese

Also, one of the most common but treatable causes of recurrent miscarriage is a blood clotting disorder known as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), where your immune system attacks the fats, or phospholipids, in your blood.

Other causes of recurrent miscarriages include:

  • Other blood clotting disorders
  • Incompetent cervix (or cervical weakness)
  • Abnormal chromosomes
  • Uterus abnormalities
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Serious infections such as toxoplasmosis or listeria
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders

To put your mind at ease there are tests that your gynecologist may recommend to determine whether any of the causes listed above could be responsible for your miscarriages. Common tests include:

  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) testing
  • Blood clotting testing
  • Genetic testing
  • Ultrasound or laparoscopy (to check the shape and health of the uterus)

Sometimes your obstetrician can pinpoint the exact cause and sometimes it’s not detectable through diagnostic tests. Not being able to pinpoint the root cause can be very distressing. After all, if nothing is wrong why does this keep happening? It’s a frustrating question that can leave some couple feeling disheartened. But it’s important to know that even though many couples go through recurrent miscarriages, many of them go on to have a healthy baby the next time.

Don’t go through this process alone. Speak to your obstetrician and gynecologist who can shed some light on what’s going on so that you can finally have the piece of mind you deserve.

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