Miscarriage

Miscarriage (also called spontaneous abortion) affects 10–20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. The majority occur in the first trimester and are caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo — a random event that becomes more likely with increasing maternal age. Recurrent miscarriage (3 or more losses) affects 1–2% of couples and warrants investigation.

Workup for recurrent loss includes karyotyping of both partners, uterine cavity evaluation, thrombophilia panel (including antiphospholipid antibodies), and thyroid function. Treatable causes include antiphospholipid syndrome, uterine structural abnormalities, and thyroid disorders. Chromosomal causes may be addressed by PGT-A in IVF cycles. Most couples with recurrent loss eventually have a successful pregnancy with or without intervention.