The Minster Practice, Lichfield

Updated 02/08/2006

How common is miscarriage

At least 1 in 5 pregnancies end in a miscarriage. In fact, as many as 50% of total pregnancies miscarry before the egg is implanted. Of those eggs that do implant, 25-30% are lost. Most miscarriages occur before the 12th week of pregnancy with a dramatic decrease after the 8th week.

Why does it happen

Not because of anything you have done or not done. At the time of conception, half the genes come from the egg and half from the sperm and in the process of merging some information is lost. From that moment, nature has a way of making sure that when you have a baby it has the best chance of life. When the missing information is required for the baby's further development, the baby dies and the miscarriage will follow.

Will it happen again

Due to nothing more than chance, the high frequency of miscarriage means that about 1 woman in 36 will have 2 miscarriages. After 1 miscarriage there is a slightly higher chance of a second but the risk climbs a lot after 2 miscarriages to 28% and after 3 to 43%. Recurrent miscarriage is a specialist area beyond the scope of this site but we can provide information when required.

Possible causes of miscarriage

Bereavement

Whilst the reaction to a miscarriage is very variable, any grief is aggravated by major hormonal changes causing emotional volatility. A feeling of emptiness and numbness is very common but the grief can be very intense. You may wish to withdraw alone and isolated or wish to talk about your loss. Men often feel they have to be strong for their partner and though they can be just as devastated may seem uncaring. Try to be honest with each other and share your feelings.

When can we try again?

There is no right or wrong answer. Some will need time to get over their loss. Otherwise, wait until after your first period after the miscarriage. Conceiving before everything is back to normal seems to be associated with significant extra risk of miscarriage but if you do conceive no other harm is known. Remember that making love can start as soon as you feel ready.

More information

www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk

www.tommys-campaign.org.uk/index.html click on "problems in pregnancy" to display a longer menu including miscarriage

www.babyloss.com

www.womens-health.co.uk Click on the Information button to display a long list of women's health problems. Miscarriage (and recurrent miscarriage) is under the section headed Early pregnancy complications and gynaecology.

Cannabis linked to risk of miscarriage in US study

02/08/2006 The Guardian
In a widely-featured story in today's newspapers it is reported that women who smoke cannabis in the early stages of pregnancy could risk miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Research led by Dr Haibin Wang and Dr Sudhansu Dey from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, suggests that THC, the active ingredient in the drug, can retard embryo development and prevent it from reaching the womb, leading to ectopic pregnancies, where embryos develop outside the womb. THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol) affects the system because it is chemically similar to signalling molecules in the body called cannabinoids. One of these, anandamide, controls development of the embryo by binding to receptors on it. The level of anandamide in the reproductive system is crucial for normal development. However, if THC swamps the system, it disrupts this fine control. When pregnant female mice were exposed to THC, the drug did exactly that, and researchers found that this, in turn, led to embryos remaining in the fallopian tubes instead of becoming implanted in the womb. Embryos recovered from the treated mice also showed signs of apoptosis - a natural process by which defective cells destroy themselves. Previous research has found that male cannabis smokers produce less semen, containing fewer sperm. The two lead doctors said: 'our observation of mice exposed to excessive THC raises concern that the adverse effects of maternal use of marijuana could be seeded very early in pregnancy'. The results are reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.   Click here for more information about cannabis.
The same applies to the new anti-obesity agent rimonabant (Acomplia) as it is derived from cannabis.

Send mail to webmaster @minster.org.uk with questions or comments about our website. N.B. Website is for practice patients ONLY.
Copyright © 1997-2007 Dr Michael Causer Click here for full copyright notice & site warning.
Homepage last modified: August 25, 2008.