Miscarriage is the loss of a fetus within the first 23-weeks of pregnancy. Many factors can cause or contribute to the cause of miscarriage. What is common to all is that is heartbreaking for the couple and most especially for the expecting mother. When multiple miscarriages occur, the situation is usually devastating. In addition to the physical pain, the emotional impact is tremendous. Unfortunately, many women go through this traumatic experience. In this post, we will discuss 5 important aspects about multiple miscarriages that every woman should be aware of.
- What is “multiple miscarriages”
Usually, doctors define multiple miscarriages as more than 3 consecutive miscarriages. “Recurrent Pregnancy Loss” or RPL usually happens within the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. As mentioned above, there are many causes of multiple miscarriages and the treatment is specific to each cause.
- One may never know the cause
That’s right. In some cases, doctors don’t know the exact cause of multiple miscarriages, even after performing numerous tests and investigations. Reproductive issues are complex. Every woman has a unique body, which can react and respond to pregnancy in different ways. However, don’t lose hope! Specialty doctors are trained to deal with these issues and will offer you a treatment. If you see blood spotting, talk to your obstetrician immediately.
- It’s not related to infertility
Contrary to what people believe, recurrent pregnancy loss is not related to infertility. Infertility refers to a woman’s inability to conceive, despite trying. On the other hand, miscarriage is early fetal loss. Of course, there are factors that could trigger both. For example, some hormonal issues can lead to both infertility and miscarriage, but there’s not enough reason to link both.
- Low progesterone
Progesterone is a sex hormone that is known to affect many functions in the body. Every woman has different levels of this hormone. A miscarriage can happen if the level of progesterone drops considerably after the sperm has fertilized the egg. Lower levels of progesterone can also impact the womb and uterus.
- Polycystic ovarian dyndrome (PCOS) can trigger multiple miscarriages
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects the ovaries and, therefore, women with PCOS usually have difficulties to get pregnant. Additionally, pregnant women with PCOS are at high risk of miscarriage. Follicles in PCOS are known to be harmless, but these can impact the overall ovulation process and pregnancy. There are effective treatments available for PCOS. It is best to get treated completely before trying to get pregnant.
Talk to your doctor
Thanks to recent advances in medicine, most fertility and pregnancy complications can be identified, treated, and resolved. While it is very important to try to find the cause of a fetal loss, the medical advice you receive is probably more important. You need to talk to a fertility specialist at the earliest possible time. He or she will probably suggest some tests after you went through a second miscarriage. You may also be asked to take a medication and to make changes to your lifestyle and diet.
Don’t lose hope! Keep trying!
