Miscarriage

It is more common than many believe, and it is one of the most stressful things a mother and father can go through when dealing with a pregnancy (Fertility Foods). A miscarriage is the natural death of an embryo or fetus within the womb. It takes place in the early stages of prenatal development, prior to the stage of potential independent survival.For women who are pregnant (Menopause Causes | Symptoms | Remedies), the miscarriage rate is about 15 to 20%, and miscarriages are the most common complication of early pregnancy in humans.

Symptoms of a Miscarriage

There are several symptoms to a miscarriage but the most common is vaginal bleeding, which can vary from light to heavy. It may also come and go over several days. This symptom doesn’t mean a miscarriage will happen. In fact, 50% of women who get treatment when this symptom appears, will not suffer a miscarriage. Miscarriages can also be detected through an ultrasound.

Causes of Miscarriage

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Miscarriage Miscarriage can occur for many reasons, including genetic, uterine (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) or hormonal abnormalities (Women | Natural Hormone Balancing). In the first trimester, roughly 50% of all fertilized eggs die and are lost, without the woman even knowing she is pregnant. Chromosomal abnormalities are typically found in half of all embryos that are miscarried in the first 13 weeks. Progesterone deficiency (Progesterone Wiki Page) is another cause in the first trimester.In the second trimester, miscarriages are typically caused by uterine malformation, growths in the uterus and cervical problems (HPV Vaccine & Cervical Cancer). These conditions also cause premature births. In a study in Pediatric and Development Pathology, it was found that 19% of second trimester miscarriages were caused because of problems with the umbilical cord. Later term miscarriages are caused by problems with the placenta.

Miscarriage Risk Factors

There are several risk factors when dealing with miscarriages. If a pregnancy has more than one fetus, there is a higher risk. Diseases including polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes mellitus (Excessive Sugar Consumption Effects), hypothyroidism and autoimmune disease can lead to miscarriages. In addition, smoking (Smoking Risks, It’s Time to Stop Smoking) has an increased risk of causing miscarriages, even if the husband smokes. In one study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the risk of miscarriage was 81% higher when husbands smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day.