Miscarriage is one of the most common complications of pregnancy that involves the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before the 20th week of gestation. Repeated miscarriages (two or more consecutive miscarriages) occur in about 1 in 100 women. If this happens to you, it’s not only discouraging, but it causes extreme emotional pain, frustration, and sadness. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you cannot carry a baby to term. Know that there is hope with recent advancements.
Recurrent miscarriages may be caused by genetic errors in the egg, sperm or the parents, as well as abnormalities of the uterus or medical problems with the mother. The cause of your recurrent miscarriages is diagnosed by reviewing your medical history and past pregnancies and by performing a thorough physical examination. Your doctor may order a pelvic examination, blood tests and imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. If genetic causes are suspected, you may need additional tests called karyotyping and microarray testing. Once we determine the cause of miscarriage, we create your individual treatment plan.
Treatment is based on the cause of your miscarriage. Treatments include medications to treat miscarriages related to anti-phospholipid syndrome, diabetes or hormonal problems. In cases of uterine abnormality, you may be recommended for surgery. However, the vast majority of miscarriages are due to genetic abnormalities in the chromosomes of the embryo. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is recommended for women with a history of recurrent pregnancy losses where a genetic cause is suspected. PGS is a diagnostic tool used with an IVF procedure to examine embryos for chromosomal abnormalities. When the embryo has several actively dividing cells, a few cells are removed and tested for chromosomal abnormalities. Then only the healthy embryos are transferred into the womb for development, increasing the likelihood of pregnancy, decreasing significantly the chance of miscarriage, and maximizing the chances of bringing a healthy child home.
If you are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, we can help you establish the cause and offer treatment options to achieve a successful pregnancy. We are dedicated to helping make our patients’ dreams of building a family a reality.