Help for Recurrent Miscarriage

There are certainly a number of reasons that a woman would have recurrent miscarriages. The medical community considers the woman to have had recurrent miscarriages if she is under 35 and has had 3 or more miscarriages, or is over 35 and has had 2 or more miscarriages.

Consulting with a Doctor

Identifying the issue and fixing it can certainly help most women to go on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. The first step, of course, is to consult with a physician. The doctor will review your medical history and will conduct a pelvic exam. He/she may decide to do a number of tests to check on your chromosomes, your immune system, and more. Each of these tests is helping to identify common areas of concern with multiple miscarriages and to rule out certain issues.

Breakdown of Causes

Multiple miscarriages occur because of a number of issues. 1% of the time, it's due to infection. 5-10% of the time, the miscarriages result from anatomy abnormalities. 20% of the time it's the result of low progesterone levels. 50% of the time, the issue is with the woman's immune system. 7% of the time it has to do with chromosomal abnormalities, and 10-15% of the time, the reason is simply unknown.

Tests for Getting Help

There are a number of tests that doctors may do to isolate the issue and the cause of the recurrent miscarriages. These tests could include the mapping of the woman's chromosomes to look for genetic defects, a hysterosalpingogram, blood tests to look for immune system issues and to measure hormone levels, a vaginal ultrasound to look at the shape of the uterus and an endometrial biopsy. Certainly, before allowing for any testing, you should get all of the facts from your physician and understand what is involved in the procedure.

More In Depth On A Few Tests

A few of the more well known methods for evaluating the reasons for pregnancy loss include the hysteroscopy, the endometrial biopsy, and a direct antibody test. The hysteroscopy looks at the uterine shape to see if there are scars or other issues. If there is an adhesion on the uterus, the procedure may need to be done a few times to remove the issue. Afterwards, the patient is given estrogen to help with the re-growth of the endometrium, and there is a 60-80% change of having a normal pregnancy after this procedure is complete. Certainly, with this technique there is the risk of pelvic infection and radiation exposure. When there is a hormonal issue, an endometrial biopsy will often be performed. If an inadequate level of progesterone is found, then the patient can either be given progesterone or hCG supplements. If the doctor detects an autoimmune disorder, they can test with a coagulation based test or a direct antibody test. Low dose aspirin, started even before the next pregnancy, can be a treatment for anti-phospholipid syndrome. Doctors might also use prednisone, which suppresses the immune system, and heparin and immunoglobin injections.

These are a few of the common actions that doctors will take to help with multiple miscarriages. Certainly, each situation is different and each couple will need to seek individual counseling and help with their issue. It is certainly important, however, to know about these treatments and to seek the help that you need to, hopefully, have a healthy pregnancy and a beautiful baby!