By chance alone, 15% of all pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Some couples experience several miscarriages in a row, raising suspicion that something more than bad luck is effecting the outcome of these pregnancies. The evaluation of repetitive miscarriages focuses on genetic, immunologic, hormone, infectious and anatomical issues.

Chromosome Testing
The most valuable study to evaluate the reason why a miscarriage has occurred is chomosome analysis of the tissue which is miscarried. Obviously, this study can only be performed at the time of the miscarriage. If we can prove that the miscarriage resulted from a chromosome mishap, extensive blood studies and tests to look for alternative explanations may be avoided. Chromosome testing of the parents explains far fewer miscarriages than testing of the miscarried tissue.

Structural Problems
Minor abnormalities in the way the uterus formed during fetal development may predispose a women to miscarry. Fibroid tumours and scar tissue within the uterus may also cause pregnancy loss. The uterus is evaluated by means of ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, direct visualization with a telescope (hysteroscopy) and /or a specialized x-ray known as hysterosalpinogram (HSG).

Immunologic Problems
Two categories of immune system malfunction may result in miscarriage. First, the woman's immune system may inapproriately attack pregnancy tissue. Blood tests may reveal misguided immune molecules such as anti-cardiolipin antibody or the lupus anticoagulant. Second, the immune system may fail to provide the normal protection usually provided to the pregnancy. These disorders are barely understood and not routinely studied.

Hormone Disorders
A deficiency of the hormone progesterone will sometimes prevent successful implantation of a pregnancy into the inner wall of the uterus. Progesterone deficiency is detected by hormone determinations while pregnant or by blood testing and/or tissue biopsies in the non-pregnant state. Disorders of thyroid, prolactin and insulin may also be investigated with blood tests.

Infection
Infections within the uterus are commonly implicated as causes of pregnancy loss later on in pregancy. Early losses (the subject of this discussion) are rarely attributed to infection. Sometimes women who have suffered several early losses will be checked for vaginal bacterial imbalance (BV) or ureaplasma infection.

Coagulation Disorders
Some women have inherited a genetic trait allowing their blood to clot too easily. The high estrogen levels of pregnancy may accentuate this tendency to clot, resulting in loss of blood flow to the pregnancy and resultant miscarriage. Many of these traits are able to be identified through blood tests.