Tests & Treatments
Why?
Women who have suffered from one miscarriage have an 80% chance of a successful pregnancy next time and the most common cause of a single miscarriage is a chromosomal defect in the foetus which is a random occurrence and very unlikely to happen again.
Recurrent Miscarriage
After three miscarriages a woman becomes eligible for treatment on the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. It is worth remembering that recurrent miscarriages only affect 1-2% of pregnant women.
Causes, tests and treatments
Blood clotting disorders (responsible for 15% of recurrent miscarriages) - there are tests to check if you have too many Antiphospholipid antibodies which causes the blood to clot more easily and this limits the supply to the baby.- treatable by aspirin and heparin (the best combined treatment for this condition with 70% success rate).
Hormonal abnormality (found in 60% of women who have recurrent miscarriage) - usually caused by an overproduction of Luteinising Hormone (LH) and is common in women who have PCOS. Supportive care seems to be all that is needed for a successful pregnancy.
Immune disorders - include a rare disorder where the mother's body rejects the baby as a foreign body as it contains the father's genes. There is an antipaternal cytotoxic antibody test available and treatment can be quite simple.
Infections - there is a possibility that infections that are present in the vagina including sexually transmitted diseases and Bacterial Vaginosis but more research is needed in this area.
Cervical Incompetence - a rare condition that causes problems after week 14 of pregnancy, can be treated with a cervical stitch next time around although diagnosis is difficult.
High NK cell - it may not be available on the NHS but only costs in the region of £15 and can be treated with steroids with a success rate of more than 80%.
What you can do
Make sure your body and mind are in optimum health
Research - knowledge is power
Ask your doctor what tests they can refer you for
Research and Articles
- Influence of bacterial vaginosis on conception and miscarriage - British Medical Journal July 1999
- Is this the end for miscarriage heartbreak? - Daily Mail Nov 2005
- New miscarriage breakthrough - Daily Mail Jan 2004
- The simple £15 'cure' for miscarriage - The Sunday Times March 2004
