Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, happens when a pregnancy terminates by a way of natural causes. Miscarriages occur before the conceptus can survive on its own. Many women do not even realize that they have experienced a spontaneous abortion because it happens so early in the pregnancy. A sign of an early miscarriage could appear as a menstrual period that is heavier than normal. Miscarriages that take place later during the pregnancy could result in uncomfortable cramping and intense bleeding.
About 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. This is most likely an underestimate due to the fact that a large number of spontaneous abortions remain undetected. Often a woman may not know that she is expecting and or mistake the products of the miscarriage for a menstrual period. A closer estimate may actually be that 40% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.
There are many different genetic, hormonal, or medical problems that can cause a woman to miscarry. Often a miscarriage is due to the fact that the conceptus is defective. Studies of spontaneously aborted fetuses point out that around 60% of them showed abnormalities that were incompatible with life. Miscarriages seem to function as a means of naturally reducing the number of defective fetuses. This finding puts to rest the belief that a majority of miscarriages are due to psychological and physical traumas or a woman?s negligence.
Although many women do not realize that they are pregnant and therefore do not realize they have experienced a miscarriage, some women do recognize when they have miscarried. A spontaneous abortion can be a significant loss, not only for the woman involved, but the couple as a whole. A strongly desired pregnancy that ends with a miscarriage can cause a great deal of grief for the expectant parents. When a couple has been trying for a significant amount of time to have a child, the loss of a baby through miscarriage can have a painful emotional impact. Miscarriage has the ability to make someone feel very lonely and helpless.
In order to help someone cope with a miscarriage, it is important to be supportive. It is also important to ask how the experience has affected the individuals involved and see if there is any way to help. It is probably helpful to the parents to listen to them talk about their feelings and emotions towards the miscarriage.
Possible causes of miscarriage
- rejection of abnormal fetus
- damaged cervix
- abnormal uterus
- underactive thyroid gland
- diabetes
- cocaine use
- chronic kidney inflammation
- infection
- autoimmune reaction
- emotional shock
© - Reproduced with permission of SexInfo, University of California at Santa Barbara, 2007.