Miss Alina-Maria Unipan, MRCOG
Early Pregnancy Specialist Consultant
If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, my heart goes out to you. As a gynaecologist, I know this loss is deeply personal and far too common. Up to 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, often before a woman even realizes she’s pregnant. While this statistic offers little comfort, understanding why it happens can ease the burden of guilt or uncertainty many carry.
Let’s demystify the causes together:
Chromosomal “Mistakes” (The Most Common Cause)
Over 50% of early miscarriages occur because the embryo develops with missing or extra chromosomes. These are random errors—like a typo in life’s blueprint—and cannot be prevented. They’re nature’s way of ending pregnancies that cannot develop healthily.
Underlying Health Conditions
- Chronic illnesses: Uncontrolled thyroid disorders, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases (like lupus) can disrupt pregnancy.
- Blood clotting disorders: Conditions like antiphospholipid syndrome may block blood flow to the placenta.
- Infections: Rubella, toxoplasmosis, or severe pelvic infections can threaten a pregnancy.
Age & Biology
As women age, egg quality naturally declines. By age 40, the miscarriage risk rises to ~40% due to higher chromosomal abnormality rates. This is not your fault—it’s biology.
Lifestyle & Environment
While not primary causes, these factors can tip the scales:
- Heavy smoking, alcohol, or drug use
- Severe obesity
- High-dose radiation or toxic chemical exposure (e.g., pesticides, solvents)
Key Truths to Hold Onto:
- Miscarriage is RARELY preventable. It’s almost never caused by stress, exercise, or a minor fall.
- It is NOT your fault. You did nothing wrong.
- One miscarriage does not mean you’ll have another. Future healthy pregnancies are likely.
When to Seek Help:
If you’ve had:
- ≥2 miscarriages
- A miscarriage after 12 weeks
- Known clotting disorders/autoimmune conditions
Please see me or your gynaecologist and we can run tests (bloodwork, scans, genetic screening) to uncover treatable causes like hormonal imbalances, uterine abnormalities, or immune issues.
Key messages from eGynaecologist
- Grieve freely. Your loss matters. But remember miscarriage is almost always a sign that this specific pregnancy couldn’t thrive—not that you failed.
- With support and science, we’ll navigate your path forward together.
