What you need to know about recurrent miscarriages
Suffering a miscarriage can be a difficult experience that is often shrouded in secrecy and taboo. The physical pain of miscarriage is accompanied by the emotional pain of grief for a loss that may have been planned or deeply desired, but never fully known. Statistically, 10 -15% of women experience one miscarriage, 5% two miscarriages and about 1-2% have more than two miscarriages.
A five-city study, which was published in The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India, in 2015 said 32% of the 2400 participants had suffered a miscarriage. This puts Indian women more prone to miscarriages.
The process of undergoing more than one miscarriage in a row is called recurrent miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, a miscarriage does not mean that a woman will not be able to conceive in the future. It just signifies that they need to take extra care. Almost 2/3rds of women stand a chance to a healthy pregnancy, and most of them do so without any additional treatment.
It is always recommended to consult your health expert and seek his advice. If you have suffered two or more miscarriages. In some cases, though, your doctor may recommend medications to help lower your chance of miscarriage.
How can your treat RPL?
- Taking care of medical issues
Recurrent pregnancy loss could happen due to a variety of medical issues. High levels of the hormone prolactin, fluctuating blood sugar levels, and an overactive or underactive thyroid gland are only a few of them. These conditions when treated on time improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy that lasts to term.
- Medications that thin the blood ( to be consumed only after seeking medical advice)
Medicines under the guidance of a health expert may be used to treat women with autoimmune or clotting (thrombophilia) issues. These drugs can help you avoid miscarriage when you’re pregnant. These medications increase the risk of serious bleeding disorders; therefore, they should only be consumed with the advice of a healthcare professional.
- Genetic Screening Process
The doctor may offer genetic counselling if a chromosomal problem is detected. Even though most of the couples with translocations can conceive a healthy pregnancy on their own, your doctor may recommend reproductive procedures like In-Vitro Fertilisation, also known as IVF. It enables the selection of embryos that are free of translocations, enhancing the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy.
- Minor Surgery
Surgery in the uterus can address extra tissue that divides the uterus, certain fibroids, cysts, and scar tissue. On the inside, changing the shape of the uterus can significantly lower the risk of miscarriage.
In other words, anything that benefits a woman’s health improves her chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Weight loss, quitting smoking, abstaining from illicit drugs, and reducing alcohol and caffeine intake may also help. Psychological treatment and counselling can help couples cope with the emotional pain of miscarriage and build a healthy atmosphere for a pregnancy.
For enquiries and online appointments, send a message to www.DivakarsHospital.com/contact
You can seek 2nd opinion with Dr Hema Divakar and other specialist doctors through the Divakar’s Hospital app which can be downloaded from Google Play Store or ios here – https://bit.ly/2C5cW1e
You can watch videos by Dr Hema Divakar on topics related to pregnancy and women’s healthcare by visiting the ‘Divakars Hospital’ youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNrDQK_E7XWAi7dFP71ryA/videos
