Miscarriage, or the loss of a pregnancy, is a common complication in early pregnancy. Up to one in five women will experience a miscarriage at some point in their lives, and approximately 15% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage before gestational week 9.
Most miscarriages occur before week 12 and are referred to as early miscarriages. Miscarriages that occur between weeks 12 and 22 are called late miscarriages and are considerably less common. In some cases, the pregnancy stops developing without noticeable symptoms at first, such as bleeding or pain. This is known as a missed or delayed miscarriage (missed abortion).
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses and affects about 1–2% of all couples. Although the cause of recurrent miscarriage often remains unknown, medical evaluation can provide valuable information about the prognosis for future pregnancies and, in some cases, help improve the chances of a successful outcome.
Despite these challenges, the likelihood of a successful future pregnancy is good, estimated at around 60–80%. However, even a single miscarriage can cause significant emotional distress for both the woman and her partner, and recurrent miscarriages may intensify feelings of grief and hopelessness.
Most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. The risk increases with maternal age, as egg quality declines over time.
Other factors that may influence the risk include:
The risk of miscarriage increases with age:
About 1% of women experience three or more miscarriages. In such cases, a further evaluation of the couple may be recommended. This evaluation may include:
Miscarriage is common and occurs in approximately 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. The most common cause is chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, which usually arise randomly during fertilization and early development.
Yes. The risk of miscarriage increases with age, mainly because the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities rises.
A miscarriage does not mean that you cannot become pregnant again. Many miscarriages are random events linked to chromosomal changes, and most individuals go on to have a successful pregnancy later.
In Ovumia, we are always ready to help you!
