Pregnancy Loss

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage is the spontaneous pregnancy loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy. (After 24 weeks, the loss of a baby is referred to as a still-birth)

There is still a great deal not know about the many possible causes of miscarriage, and usually diffuicult to identify a cause. The main causes are thought to be:-

Genetic: About half of all early miscarriages occur because of chance chromosome abnormalities

Hormonal: Women with hormonal irregularities may find it harder to conceive and, when they do, are more likely to miscarriage

Infection: Minor infections like colds are not harmful, but a very high temperature and some specific illnesses or infections, such as German measles, may cause miscarriage.

Anatomical: If the cervix (neck of the womb) is weak, it may start to open as the uterus (womb) becomes heavier in later pregnancies and this may lead to miscarriage. An irregular-shaped uterus can mean that there is not enough room for the baby to grow. Large fibroids may cause miscarriage later in pregnancy.

Choose an option on the left to read more about other forms of pregnancy loss.

If you have experinced pregnancy loss and would like to talk phone our Helpline on 0800 915 4600 or visit the Miscarriage Association website.