While having one miscarriage is fairly common among women, this is no comfort to the unlucky 1 to 3% of mothers who suffer from having multiple miscarriages. There are many factors that can cause a woman to have recurrent miscarriage as well as potential ways to help women carry to term.
Causes of Miscarriage
Some possible causes of miscarriage include:
Chromosomal problems with the baby – In fact, having a genetic disorder accounts for about 50% of first trimester miscarriages and may be more common among couples with recurrent miscarriage.
Maternal Infection – If the mother becomes sick, it is more likely to cause a pregnancy loss. Some of the known viruses that cause miscarriage include herpes simplex, toxoplasmosis, listeria and cytomegalovirus.
Hormonal Problems with Mother – Some of the hormonal conditions that can lead to miscarriage include thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome and Cushing’s Syndrome.
Collagen Vascular Disease – If the mother has a disease such as lupus, her body’s immune system begins to attack her own organs which can lead to a pregnancy loss.
Lifestyle Choices – Smoking and caffeine have been shown to increase a mother’s risk of miscarriage.
Invasive Prenatal Testing – Prenatal tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) carry a small risk of miscarriage.
While all of these complications have shown to cause miscarriages, about 50-75% of all miscarriages do not have a known cause. Not knowing what causes multiple miscarriages makes it even more difficult for women to find effective treatment.
Baby ASPIRIN to Treat Recurrent Miscarriages – Does it Work?
A common treatment for multiple miscarriages is a daily dose of ASPIRIN® (the equivalent of one baby ASPIRIN). However, research is showing that baby ASPIRIN® may not be as effective as previously believed.
One recent study found that in over 300 women with a history of recurrent miscarriages, there was no difference in the rate of miscarriage between women who took one baby ASPIRIN® a day versus those who did not take any ASPIRIN.
Current and Future Treatment for Mothers with Recurrent Miscarriage
One current treatment for multiple pregnancy losses includes the use of progesterone therapy. In some studies, mothers with a history of early recurrent miscarriage and were treated with progesterone were more able to carry their babies to term. Some experts speculate that the increased amount of progesterone might be essential for certain women to sustain the pregnancy past the embryonic stage (the first eight weeks of pregnancy).
There is also speculation that certain drugs known as TNFalpha inhibitors and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor could be useful in the treatment of multiple miscarriage. However, these medications will not be available as a treatment for recurrent miscarriage until they have been tested in clinical trials.
Ways to Decrease Risk of Miscarriage
One of the best ways to have a healthy pregnancy and decrease the chance of miscarriage is to begin taking prenatal vitamins several months prior to becoming pregnant, eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Women planning to become pregnant should also avoid substances known to increase the risk of miscarriage, including smoking and caffeine.
Having a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is not a guarantee that a woman will not have a miscarriage. However, taking good care of oneself can help the mother to know that she is doing everything possible to carry her pregnancy to term.
Avoid Unproven Treatments for Multiple Miscarriages
For women with more than one miscarriage, finding answers is crucial. As desperate as a woman might be to carry a pregnancy to term, it is important to know that there are many unproven treatments for multiple miscarriage that claim to be successful.
Both unproven and existing treatments for recurrent miscarriage can have unwanted or even harmful side effects, so be sure to discuss all of the pros and cons of each suggested treatment with a health care provider prior to starting treatment.
