Causes of Miscarriage

There are numerous causes of miscarriage some of which include;

·      Chromosomal abnormalities – this result from a sperm or egg that is chromosomally abnormal, abnormal cell division of the fetus as well as chromosomal abnormalities of mother and or father. A sperm or egg that is chromosomally abnormal will create a fetus that is genetically abnormal. As a result of this, the woman’s body will reject the fetus hence a miscarriage. Other chromosomal abnormalities that may result in miscarriage are;

o   Trisomy which occurs when there are 3 chromosomes of one type instead of the usual 2. This means that the resulting embryo will have 47 chromosomes and is therefore likely to abort or to produce a baby with congenital abnormalities.

o   Monosomy which occurs when there is one chromosome missing. Only 1% of pregnancies with monosomy are likely to survive.

·      Gene defects – these may also cause miscarriage although most of them result in more serious problems like cystic fibrosis.

·      Infections – severe infections like rubella and listeria may also result in sporadic miscarriages.

·      Uterine abnormalities – there are many such abnormalities that may result in miscarriage.

o   Misshapen uterus – some women have a uterus that is abnormally shaped and this may lead to miscarriage. In such a situation what happens is that the uterus is unable to enlarge enough to accommodate the pregnancy hence resulting in a miscarriage.

o   Fibroids – this often distort the uterine cavity hence preventing a pregnancy from implanting properly.

o   Cervical incompetence – during pregnancy the cervix is meant to remain closed until labor begins. However, in some women the cervix is weak and thus opens up quite painlessly, subsequently leading to the rupture of membranes and therefore expulsion of the fetus. Miscarriage as a result of cervical incompetence usually occurs in late pregnancy after 16 weeks. Note that although one could be born with this condition, it may also be as a result of a previous surgery.

·      Hormonal abnormalities – decreased levels of progesterone could lead to miscarriage as progesterone is a hormone that is required for a healthy pregnancy to be maintained.

·      Immune disorders – if blood clots form between the mother and fetal circulation during pregnancy, then it may result in miscarriage.

As indicated above, there are various causes of miscarriage. However, risk factors may also increase chances of miscarriage among pregnant mothers.