Recurrent Miscarriage

What is a recurrent miscarriage?

Recurrent miscarriage is diagnosed as the spontaneous loss of three early pregnancies in a row. Dr Kliman will however, investigate and manage recurrent miscarriage after two losses in a row to avoid anxiety and concern.

Miscarriages are common, occurring in 15 – 18% of all pregnancies but increase to up to 30% after two consecutive losses. The incidence of miscarriage also increases with advancing maternal age.

It is important to remain positive as most women after two losses will achieve a normal pregnancy third time around.

What does screening for first trimester loss include?

1. Screening for immune disorders –
   > antiphospholipid antibodies
   > thyroid disease, especially an underactive thyroid or thyroid immune disorders
2. Karyotypes – testing for chromosome abnormalities in both parents. Although the commonest cause of miscarriage is an isolated, spontaneous development of a chromosome abnormality, it is uncommon to find that parents are the cause. Rarely one parent may carry a translocation or rearrangement of their genetic material that increases the risk of miscarriage. This is however, rare.

Unfortunately in the investigations performed on women who have had two pregnancy losses in a row no cause is often found, but as mentioned previously the most likely outcome is for the next pregnancy to be successful.