Experiencing a miscarriage can be incredibly devastating for the expectant parents. Moreover, it is accompanied by a lot of emotional baggage which could involve guilt, anger, fear, grief, etc. Such feelings are quite natural as the parents are still coping and trying to understand the possible reasons for it.

The ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) suggests that miscarriage is a common scenario and a minimum of 10% of the identified pregnancies will end in a miscarriage. Therefore, it is imperative for all the parents to know about the causes related to the loss of pregnancy so that it is easier for them to gain closure and at the same time accept it is not their fault so that they can move on.

The following are some of the common causes responsible for a miscarriage:

Chromosomal abnormality

This is the most common reason why a miscarriage occurs, as there’s a major issue with the sperm or eggs chromosome while the embryo is forming. These include –

• Intrauterine fetal demise where the embryo forms but ceases to develop before one can recognize the symptoms of pregnancy loss.
• Molar pregnancy is quite unusual, but it happens when there is an abnormal placenta development, and there is no fetal growth as both sets of chromosomes come from the father.
• Partial molar pregnancy arises when the mother’s chromosomes stay along with father’s two sets of chromosomes. This causes abnormalities in placenta and then pass on to the fetus.
• A blighted ovum occurs when the fertilized egg connects itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo doesn’t grow. However, the cells from the pregnancy sac but don’t contribute to the development of the fetus.

Uterus or cervix related issues

At times, the mother might have a uterus that is shaped unevenly or would suffer from a condition known as septum where the uterus is separated into distinct segments by tissue bridges. This lacks enough support and blood supply for the embryo to implant itself properly in the uterus, which causes it to expel from the womb. Another reason for miscarriage is fibroids which are benign tumors that form in the uterus that can affect its structure.

Thyroid problems

There are two kinds of thyroid disorder, i.e., hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and both can lead to infertility and pregnancy loss if they are not treated in time. Usually, when a woman is dealing with a dysfunctional thyroid gland, it produces excessive hormones that can curb the ovulation process. If a woman is expecting, then it can interfere with the estrogen levels, making the uterus weak.

Infection and common illnesses

Numerous infections can lead to miscarriage, as they are often transferred to the placenta which ultimately affects the fetus. Some of the common infections that can affect the embryo are mumps, measles, listeria, gonorrhea, rubella, parvovirus, etc. On the other hand, ordinary illnesses like chickenpox and fifth disease can also cause miscarriage.

Uncontrolled diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause loss of pregnancy as the mother might develop insulin resistance which curbs the progress of endometrium in the uterus. This makes the cervix fragile, which is why it is unable to support the embryo.

Some of the other reasons for miscarriage can be immune system disorder, accidents, certain kinds of medications such as OTC painkillers, exposure to environmental toxins, being underweight or overweight, etc.

Unfortunately, sometimes miscarriages cannot be prevented, but having one doesn’t mean that the parents can’t try again. Most women who have dealt with miscarriages have had healthy pregnancies. Based on the earlier experiences, parents who want to conceive again should follow their doctor’s guidelines, maintain hygiene to evade infections, and have a well-maintained lifestyle comprising healthy food and exercises.

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