Unknown Causes of Miscarriage

What is a Miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the untimely premature termination of a pregnancy that falls before 20 weeks of gestation. It occurs when circumstances affecting the mother or the embryo prevent the pregnancy from continuing. Miscarriage is known as spontaneous abortion in medical terms, and this should not be mixed up with induced abortion, which is a carefully planned medical procedure.

The miscarriages will be categorised as early, which will be below 13 weeks, and lat,e which will be between 13 and 20 weeks. However, early losses are more prevalent and they are associated with chromosomal errors, or early miscarriage causes, in case of problems with implantation or embryo development.

Common Causes of a Miscarriage

Understanding the known causes of miscarriage helps couples feel more informed and reassured.

a. Chromosomal Abnormalities

The sperm and egg carry chromosomes, which contain the parents’ genetic material. A fetus with an extra or fewer chromosomes can fail to develop normally, and thus the pregnancy may not continue.

b. Hormonal Imbalance

The hormones are very instrumental in maintaining the pregnancy. Low progesterone, thyroid, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may affect the uterine lining and disrupt the implantation of the embryo, which is also one of the causes of miscarriages.

c. Structural Problems in the Uterus

A miscarriage, at times, may be caused by the size or shape of the uterus of a woman.

d. Infections

The embryo or placenta may be infected by TORCH infections, which include Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes. Extreme cases of uterine or systemic infections could also be a cause of pregnancy loss.

e. Lifestyle Factors

Miscarriage may be more likely due to substance abuse, alcohol and tobacco use. Increased risk of miscarriage can be further caused by obesity and a poor diet.

f. Medical Conditions

Foetal development may be hampered by underlying health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases like lupus and improperly treated thyroid disease. These conditions are treatable and the threat can be reduced with proper medical treatment.

Risk Factors for Miscarriage

A risk factor is a characteristic or practice that may expose an individual to a higher risk of contracting a disease or condition. Miscarriage risk factors include:

• Women aged 35 years and above have an increased chance of miscarriage. The most prevalent cause of age miscarriages is a chromosomal abnormality.
• Women who have a previous miscarriage have a 10-20% chance of another miscarriage.
• Environmental toxins or radiation.
• Persistent stress or bad lifestyle choices.
• Underlying medical conditions
• Certain medications or untreated infections

Knowing these factors facilitates safer pregnancy planning.

How IVF Can Help Reduce Miscarriage Risk

In vitro fertilisation is a superior method of pregnancy for women who have had frequent miscarriages. The process gives certain actions that can be followed to enhance the probability of having a healthy pregnancy, which will reduce the chances of a miscarriage.

With the help of advanced techniques such as PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy), doctors can select embryos with normal chromosomes and decrease the possibility of miscarriage caused by genetic defects. The process is further refined using advanced methods such as ICSI, ERA testing, and continuous embryo monitoring. They assist in choosing the most suitable embryo, determining the most appropriate time for implantation, and addressing problems that would otherwise remain invisible. The doctors make sure that they implant only a healthy and chromosomally normal embryo in the uterus, which is much more likely to decrease the chances of a miscarriage.

IVF also allows specialists to investigate the cause of infertility in detail, particularly in those cases where the reasons for miscarriage in early pregnancy are not known. When this emotional and medical assistance is provided during the IVF, the couples become more secure and optimistic about their process.

Diagnosis and Evaluation After a Miscarriage

A fertility specialist or an ob/gyn will examine the medical history and previous pregnancies of a patient in order to identify the cause of recurrent miscarriages. A physician will typically suggest a full-body examination with a pelvic examination.

• Thyroid, progesterone and other reproductive hormone tests.
• Genetic karyotyping for both partners
• Ultrasound or hysteroscopy to examine the uterus.
• Infection screening
• Immunological tests to detect autoimmune conditions

These tests assist in determining the miscarriage reasons and provide treatment.

Prevention and Management

Although prevention of all miscarriages is not possible, healthy practices and timely care can reduce the risks associated with both known and unknown causes of miscarriage. Basic lifestyle and health measures can help facilitate a healthier pregnancy.

• Preconception health check-up : Helps determine a person's health conditions to be treated before pregnancy.
• Control chronic illnesses : Maintaining thyroid diseases, diabetes, or high blood pressure is what helps in having a stable pregnancy.
• Eat well : A healthy weight will generally reduce hormonal imbalance and improve reproductive health.
• Healthy diet : A healthy diet that is high in whole foods is beneficial to the body and it equips it to carry pregnancy.
• Smoking, alcohol and drugs : These should be avoided during pregnancy as the drugs can influence the development of the baby and risk miscarriage.
• Deal with stress : Stress can be kept in check by relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or counselling.
• Undergo regular antenatal check-ups : This guarantees prompt identification and control of any pregnancy-related issues.

Conclusion

Miscarriages can occur due to known or unknown causes of miscarriage, and both may be emotionally hard to comprehend. With proper counselling, medical tests, and care, there are a lot of couples who would develop healthy pregnancies. Advanced fertility treatments like IVF offer hope by reducing risk factors and improving outcomes. Indira IVF offers expert fertility care, advanced treatments and compassionate support to help couples achieve a healthy pregnancy.