Any unwanted spontaneous pregnancy loss prior to the 20th week of pregnancy is considered a miscarriage. Miscarriages affect nearly 15% of all pregnancies. Here Dr.Bandita Sinha, Consultant gynaecologist & Fertility Specialist tells us the common causes of miscarriages and what one can do to prevent one.
Common causes of Miscarriages
Genetic (Chromosomal): Almost 60% of all miscarriages are due to genetic abnormalities of the developing fetus. The risk is higher with advanced maternal age.
Uterine Abnormalities: Fibroid tumours, congenital uterine abnormalities e.g septa could also be a reason. These problems can be diagnosed with USG and HSG and treated by surgery before planning a pregnancy to reduce risks of miscarriage.
Medical Conditions: Diabetes mellitus, is one of the major causes of miscarriage among young woman. Apart from this, thrombophilia, thyroid disease, hormonal imbalances and high homocysteine level could also be a cause.
Immunological cause: Some women might suffer from a condition called anti phospholipids antibody syndrome where the body's immune system might start attacking the fetus and lead to a miscarriage.
Except for the genetic causes, other causes can be treated and future pregnancy can be planned accordingly. A healthy lifestyle before and during pregnancy is very important.
Regular Exercise: It improves the blood circulation of the reproductive tract.
Healthy and well-balanced diet: Nutrition helps the body to withstand certain untoward incidents including miscarriage.
Stress management: Because any kind of stress causes an imbalance in hormones which can cause a disturbance in normal reproductive hormones.
Maintain an ideal body weight: Overweight women are more at risk of suffering from a miscarriage.
Avoid smoking and alcohol: These two vices increase a woman's chance of menopause by manifolds.
Avoid caffeinated beverages: The caffeine is the culprit when it comes to miscarriage.
Treatment of medical conditions: All medical conditions like diabetes mellitus, thyroid problems, hormonal imbalance such as PCOS, high prolactin level should always be treated before becoming pregnant. These medical conditions should be within a safe range before the woman become pregnant.
Take folic acid: 3 months before conceiving, every woman should start folic acid tablets and prenatal vitamins to prevent any complication during pregnancy.
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