Miscarriage: causes and risk

The causes of a miscarriage are different. Emotional stress, genetic causes, hormonal disorders or infections can be the causes of a miscarriage in early pregnancy. The risk of suffering a miscarriage is particularly high in the first few weeks of pregnancy. An estimated 30 percent of women experience one or more miscarriages in their lifetime.

Miscarriage: what does it mean?

A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends before the 20th to 22nd week of pregnancy and the weight of the fetus is less than 500 grams. If the fetus dies later, when it is heavier, it is recorded as a stillbirth.

In the case of a miscarriage, a distinction is made between an  early abortion , if the pregnancy breaks off before the 12th week of pregnancy , and a  late abortion, if the pregnancy breaks off after the 12th week of pregnancy.

There are also other distinctions based on the course and stage of a miscarriage. You can find out more about this in our article “ Abortion: Types and differences of a miscarriage ”.

Miscarriage in the first weeks of pregnancy

Miscarriages can occur, especially in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Many women who suffer a miscarriage do not even know they are pregnant at the time. As a result, many people do not notice anything about a miscarriage and attribute side effects, such as bleeding, to their menstrual cycle, for example. An actual miscarriage rate can therefore basically only be assumed. It is estimated that 30 percent of women will experience one or more miscarriages in their lifetime. In the case of pregnancies that have already been established, the rate is around 15 to 20 percent . Almost half of all miscarriages go unnoticed.

Causes of miscarriage

It is often not possible to unequivocally clarify the causes of a miscarriage. Because there are a number of different factors, both on the part of the parents and on the part of the unborn child, which can lead to:

• Genetic causes are often the reason for a miscarriage. Against the background of so-called chromosomal anomalies, errors in the genetic material can occur. This is the case, for example, when the number of chromosomes changes. This can lead to an embryo not developing further and dying. In the so-called translocation, there is a genetic error in the parents. In the worst-case scenario, this defect can result in the embryo missing important genes that it needs for further development during the fertilization of an egg cell.
• In the worst case, infections during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage. In our special you can find out more about the most dangerous infections during pregnancy such as rubella, hepatitis or toxoplasmosis and how you can prevent them.
• Congenital malformations of the uterus or a weak cervix can also be causes of a miscarriage.
• In the case of miscarriages within the first eight weeks, the cause is often that an amniotic sac has developed but no embryo. This is known as a hydatid mole .
• Myomas , i.e. benign growths in the uterus, can also be decisive for a premature end of pregnancy, depending on their location and size. You can find out more about this in our article “ Fibroids: Uterine tumors prevent pregnancy ”.
• Hormonal disorders , for example a disorder of the thyroid gland, also increase the risk of miscarriage.
• Psychological stress , for example stress or shock, can favor a miscarriage.
• Outside influences, such as lifting too heavy or abuse of alcohol and drugs , can also end in a miscarriage. Read more about this in our special “ What are you allowed to do during pregnancy? “.
• A gestosis , also known as pregnancy poisoning, can pose a risk to the unborn child. You can find out what pregnancy poisoning is and how it manifests itself in our article ” What is a gestosis? “. ” Experienced.

Risk factors as causes of miscarriage

Every pregnant woman wants her pregnancy to be uncomplicated. However, there are some factors affecting the expectant mother, in connection with which the risk of miscarriage increases significantly:

• Unfortunately, the risk of miscarriage increases with age . Find out more in our article ” High-risk pregnancy over 35? ‘ and find out what to look out for.
• Pre -existing conditions that affect the heart, kidneys or circulatory system, for example, but also diabetes, represent a risk factor and can therefore be the cause of a miscarriage. In this case, it is advisable to discuss this with your doctor before planning a pregnancy.
• The number of previous pregnancies can also increase the risk of miscarriage. For example, women who have already been pregnant two or three times have an increased risk of miscarriage.
• If you have already suffered one or more miscarriages , there is also an increased risk.
• You should completely avoid stimulants such as cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy, as they endanger your unborn child. You can find out more about this in our article ” Alcohol, cigarettes and coffee during pregnancy “.
• Too much caffeine can also harm your unborn child. You should therefore keep your consumption within limits. You can find information on this in our article “ Coffee during pregnancy ”.

You can easily eliminate some of these risk factors, such as the consumption of stimulants. You can find out what else you can do in our article “ Preventing a miscarriage ”.

Miscarriage needs to be processed

Processing the loss of a child is painful. But it is very important to do this. In our article Grief After a Miscarriage you can learn why it is so important to cope with the grief of losing your child. We will also show you ways of processing that have already helped other affected parents.