{"id":103116,"date":"2019-11-11T05:46:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T10:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/103116\/pregnancy-loss-common-causes-miscarriage-pregnancy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-21T15:16:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T20:16:29","slug":"pregnancy-loss-common-causes-miscarriage-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/103116\/pregnancy-loss-common-causes-miscarriage-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the common causes of miscarriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"Pregnancy loss is one of the most difficult things a family can go through, but it’s important to know that you aren’t alone, as it’s believed that 10-20%, and maybe up to 25%, of known pregnancies end in loss<\/span>. <\/span>M<\/span>ost women who experience pregnancy loss will go on to conceive again and deliver healthy babies.<\/span>\n\nAlthough pregnancy loss is common<\/span>, there are a number of different factors that may lead to or contribute to pregnancy loss. <\/span> S<\/span>ome of the more common <\/span>reasons for miscarriage are described below.<\/span>\n

Chromosomal abnormalities<\/strong><\/h4>\nGenetic factors cause a wide array of chromosomal abnormalities, which in turn can cause miscarriage. It\u2019s hard to prevent these situations, but informing your healthcare provider of your full family history and performing specific blood work to test for these conditions can sometimes help women determine if genetic factors will be a risk factor.\n

Uterine abnormalities<\/strong><\/h4>\nUterine abnormalities can prevent pregnancy <\/span>from occurring<\/span>, or increase the risk of miscarriage if conception <\/span> does<\/span> occur. A woman\u2019s uterus can be<\/span>\u00a0shaped <\/span>in such a way that makes conception difficult<\/span>, divided by a misplaced muscle, or not fully formed. These problems are <\/span>often congenital, or present from birth, <\/span>but have gone unnoticed until <\/span>a woman<\/span> is <\/span>trying to conceive<\/span>. Fibroids, scarring, and a retroverted or tipped uterus are also conditions that can cause miscarriage.<\/span>\n

Cervical insufficiency<\/strong><\/h4>\nThis\u00a0occurs when<\/span> the cervix begins to dilate and thin too early in pregnancy. <\/span>This<\/span> can <\/span>lead to<\/span> miscarriage, especially after the first trimester. It can be hard to diagnose an insufficient\u00a0cervix before symptoms start to occur, but once diagnosed, providers <\/span>may be able to<\/span> treat the problem early and <\/span>will carefully monitor<\/span> the woman throughout<\/span> the rest of <\/span>her<\/span> pregnancy. <\/span>However, if treatment is unsuccessful and the cervix continues to dilate, early induction and delivery might be unavoidable.<\/span>\n

Untreated illnesses and bacterial infections<\/strong><\/h4>\nMinor infections such as yeast infections or the common cold should not impact the health of your fetus. Rather, women need to be aware of some of the more serious illnesses that could impact their pregnancy and ensure they are treated <\/span>before pregnancy, or as soon as possible after learning they <\/span>are<\/span> pregnant. Some of these include syphilis, bacterial vaginosis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, influenza, a prolonged fever, epilepsy, or thyroid disease. <\/span>Healthcare providers test women for some of these diseases during the initial obstetric appointment – this includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and Hepatitis B, but if you know you are at an increased risk for\u00a0any disease, you should inform your provider.<\/span>\n

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)<\/strong><\/h4>\nWomen with PCOS are nearly three times more likely to experience miscarriage than women who don\u2019t have the condition. Treatment is especially important in these cases, because certain medications <\/span>such as<\/span> metformin might reduce this risk <\/span>of miscarriage.<\/span>\n

Lifestyle factors<\/strong><\/h4>\nCertain lifestyle factors, <\/span>such as<\/span> the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, high levels of stress, obesity, and excessive amounts of caffeine can contribute to the likelihood of pregnancy loss.<\/span>\n

Immunologic disorders<\/strong><\/h4>\nImmunologic disorders are disorders in which the body\u2019s immune cells attack healthy cells within your body. A large number of these disorders exist and vary greatly in cause, and certain types can impact the health of your pregnancy.<\/span> One example <\/span>is<\/span> antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disorder that affects blood clotting and raises the risk of miscarriage. Lupus and type 1 diabetes are other examples of illnesses that can cause miscarriage. Blood tests can help diagnose an autoimmune disorder, and from there, treatment and intervention vary by the individual, and her healthcare provider.<\/span>\n\n
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