Pregnancy loss or miscarriages can be one of the toughest losses a person suffers from, a couple suffers from. While miscarriages are unfortunately not uncommon, multiple miscarriages can start feeling like a nightmare for those suffering from it. 15% of couples who get clinically pregnant suffer from spontaneous loss of a pregnancy. Clinical pregnancy is defined as one which is documented by either an ultrasound or a pathologic diagnosis. This is different from sporadic losses which are before 10 weeks.
Repeated pregnancy loss (RPL), on the other hand, has been inconsistently defined. Recurrent miscarriage or habitual abortion or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) happens when a woman suffers two or more miscarriages. Approximately 1% to 2% of women are affected by the loss of 3 consecutive pregnancies prior to 20 weeks from the last menstrual period.
Multiple miscarriages, as mentioned, happen in 15-20% of pregnancy. In fact, early losses that occur before a missed period, range from 30-50% of clinical pregnancies. Women who have a history of two or more previous miscarriages are at a higher risk of yet another pregnancy loss. This risk increases to about 40%. Around 5% of women who have 2 consecutive miscarriages suffer from a third one and about 1% experience 3 or more. It is therefore important that if you or your partner has had 2 losses or more that you talk to a doctor or an expert on infertility who can look into possible causes of the pregnancy losses.
Another important thing for couples and especially for women to understand is that there are some misconceptions about loss of pregnancy including:
• Exercise during pregnancy
• Sex during pregnancy
• Work with long hours of sitting or standing
• Having a shock or fright during pregnancy
• Traveling by air
• Eating spicy food
Repeated miscarriages may leave the couple feeling utterly drained and bereft of hope. For the women, it becomes difficult to focus on the future and have faith in it. It affects her mental and emotional health as well as her physical health and social well-being. At Apollo Fertility, we understand this and endeavor to ensure that we support the women and the couple in every way we can.
Numbers and statistics provide solace – six out of ten women who have had three miscarriages will go on to have a baby in their next pregnancy. Apart from that there exist treatment for anatomic abnormalities of the uterus including surgical restoration. At Apollo Fertility not only do we provide surgical support to the couple but also IVF treatment and facilities i.e. In Vitro Fertilization. If IVF is not unsuccessful, the couple can opt for gestational surrogacy as well.
Meeting a psychiatrist is also a healthy alternative. RPL is not just a physical experience but also an emotional one. Seeking help on that front is advisable. It might even open up the avenue of considering adoption as the next step forward.
Ultimately, if a couple with RPL is open to all of the diagnostic and treatment options available they actually have a 70 % – 80 % chance of achieving a live birth rate of 70% – 80%.
