|
Illness in the mother
Certain illnesses or disorders have been linked
to a greater risk of miscarriage including: endometriosis or infection
in the womb; autoimmune conditions such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosis;
heart disease or severe kidney disease; uncontrolled diabetes
or thyroid
disease.
If the pregnancy is planned the woman should make sure that any
existing
condition is under control before she conceives. When recurrent
miscarriages occur in a previously healthy woman, tests may be
done to
exclude any undiagnosed condition.
Immune disorders
Our immune system forms antibodies to destroy foreign
substances such as disease in our bodies. Occasionally in women
with a
history of recurrent miscarriages her body sees the baby as a
foreign
substance and attacks it.
Abnormalities of the uterus - including:
Defects present from birth, eg where the uterus is divided into
two
sections
Fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of uterine muscle tissue. An
incompetent cervix, which opens too early in the pregnancy without
any signs of labour.
Environment and lifestyle factors
These include:
— Smoking or heavy use of alcohol or chemical substances.
— Exposure to radiation or toxic substances.
Age
Research shows that older women are at an increased risk of
miscarriage.
Chromosomal problems of the unborn child
These usually happen by chance. There is an increased risk associated
with the woman's age and where one or both of the parents are
carriers of a chromosomal disorder.
Hormone imbalance
Progesterone is a hormone which prepares the lining of the womb
for a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilised the lining is shed
in menstruation.
If a pregnancy occurs, progesterone, together with other hormones,
continues to maintain the lining and keep the pregnancy secure.
If there are low levels of progesterone in early pregnancy a miscarriage
can occur.
|
