What Causes Spontaneous Abortions?

A miscarriage is also termed as a spontaneous abortion. Miscarriage takes place before 24th week of the pregnancy period. Lose of child after this time period is termed as “stillbirth”.

Bleeding from the vagina is accompanied with clots, excess pain in the back and abdominal cramps are signs of miscarriage. The trouble is, unless you take your first scan you are not sure if your baby would survive or not.

Genetic Abnormability

In case of any genetic abnormability, the fetus is most likely to be lost. Chromosomal abnormability is the most common one. Even those fetus which survive may suffer from a life long disorder such as Down`s syndrome, etc.  In case of repeated miscarriages, the couple must undertake chromosomal analysis. Defected genes may also cause a miscarriage.

Health Conditions

Presence of fibroids does not let the embryo develop and often leads to a miscarriage. Also, the infectious disease bacterial vaginosis has been responsible for many miscarriages in several women. It is also said to cause premature labor. Genitor-urinary infections also lead to miscarriage.

Hormonal imbalance of LH (luteinizing hormone) and progesterone may lead to an early miscarriage. Progesterone is responsible to maintain the pregnancy for first few weeks. If the problem is recognized earlier progesterone supplementation may help.

Women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome have raised levels of LH. Such women have greater risk of miscarriage.

Auto-immune disorders like blood clotting syndrome can cause miscarriage within 8 weeks. Blood thinning drugs are helpful. Obesity in women has been a much talked about cause of miscarriages. Most women who face weight problems because of PMS or polycystic ovarian syndromes are at a much higher risk.

Habits

Smoking, drinking and excess consumption of caffeine may increase the risk greatly. The tobacco damages the DNA and increases abnormability of the gene.  Increased oxidation in the body forms unhealthy grounds for the embryo to develop.

Alcohol, on the other hand, may cause mutation of the genes. Even slightest consumption of alcohol during pregnancy works as a toxin for the fetus. The same effect is produced by consumption of caffeine during pregnancy. One may opt for decaffeinated coffee as an alternative to the regular coffee and tea.