There are few events as heartbreaking as recurrent pregnancy loss.
It can be even more challenging to cope with multiple pregnancy losses. Recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as suffering two or more miscarriages. If this occurs, there is still hope available to you. Consult an infertility specialist about your treatment options. At the fertility clinic, you can expect to undergo diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of the miscarriages. The treatment for recurrent pregnancy loss will vary, depending on the cause.
What is recurrent pregnancy loss?
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) defines recurrent pregnancy loss as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. If you have experienced more than one miscarriage, it’s time to visit a Dallas fertility doctor. A board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Dallas IVF can diagnose the problem and develop a customized treatment plan to help you find pregnancy success.
Diagnosing and treating recurrent pregnancy loss
The causes of recurrent pregnancy loss vary. Some of the causes include hormonal issues, infections, genetic problems, autoimmune disorders, maternal age and structural abnormalities in the female reproductive system. Sometimes, more than one cause is responsible for recurrent pregnancy loss. In other cases, the losses may be unexplained.
Most of the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss can be treated, even unexplained ones. However, a proper evaluation is the only way to make sure that you receive the proper treatment. This evaluation will often involve several blood tests, a genetic evaluation and a transvaginal ultrasound.
Once your Dallas fertility doctor receives the results of your testing, he or she can move forward with developing a treatment plan. The recommended fertility treatment will vary depending on the cause or causes of your recurrent pregnancy loss.
- If a genetic issue or advanced maternal age causes recurrent pregnancy loss, your doctor may recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to screen for healthy embryos. In some cases of advanced maternal age, your Dallas fertility doctor may recommend IVF with donor eggs.
- If uterine abnormalities such as a uterine septum, polyps or fibroids are responsible, then minimally invasive fertility surgery could be the answer.
- If an infection or autoimmune condition is causing the miscarriages, treatment could be as simple as treating the infection or condition.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Sometimes, it’s determined that genetic factors play a role in multiple pregnancy loss. For example, the embryo may receive an inappropriate amount of genetic material when the parent has a chromosome defect. If this applies to you, you might consider using preimplantation genetic testing with in vitro fertilization treatment. This process involves screening embryos for chromosomal problems and other genetic abnormalities. The healthy embryos can then be implanted.
Metabolic Regulation
If you have diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and your blood sugar levels are not well controlled, this could be a reason for the recurrent pregnancy loss. If this is the case, then your treatment will involve controlling your blood sugar levels with diet, exercise, and possibly medication.
Surgical Correction
There are many types of uterine abnormalities that may cause recurrent pregnancy loss. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), about 10 to 15 percent of women who suffer repeat miscarriages have a distortion of the uterus. Other potential abnormalities include an incompletely formed uterus or a double uterus. Scar tissue within the uterus, uterine fibroids, and uterine polyps can also cause the loss of a pregnancy. Depending on your condition, surgical correction of uterine abnormalities may be possible.
At Dallas IVF, you’ll find warm and compassionate staff members who are dedicated to helping you achieve a healthy pregnancy.
Our fertility specialists offer counseling and support throughout your treatment for recurrent pregnancy loss. Please call our fertility clinic in Dallas at (469) 287-8179 to schedule a consultation today.
More from Dallas IVF: fertility clinic, American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Treatments
Recurrent pregnancy loss, or repetitive miscarriages of 2 -3 pregnancies in the first or early second trimester, warrants an investigation. There are numerous etiologies that may cause a couple to have recurrent pregnancy losses. Sometimes, the losses are unexplained. Other times, the recurrent miscarriages may be due to chromosomal, hormonal, and infectious causes, or may be related to an autoimmune or thrombophilic blood disorder.
An evaluation for recurrent pregnancy loss may require different blood studies including a genetic evaluation. Treatments for recurrent pregnancy loss depend on the source of the problem. If a genetic component exists, couples can consider using PGT to screen for healthy, genetically normal embryos or use donor eggs or donor sperm. If a woman has an autoimmune or thrombophilia disorder, the administration of heparin, a blood thinner, may decrease the chance of having another loss. The most common treatable causes of first trimester pregnancy losses are uterine abnormalities, which may include uterine septums, polyps, or fibroids. Outpatient surgery will be recommended by your Dallas IVF physician if there is a uterine abnormality leading to recurrent pregnancy loss.
A healthy lifestyle eliminating smoking and excessive alcohol and reducing caffeine consumption combined with moderate exercise and weight control may all be of benefit. Dallas IVF is committed to providing comfort and counseling to help couples cope with their losses.