Miscarriage

What is a miscarriage?

A miscarriage is broadly defined as a pregnancy loss prior to week 20. Sadly, we know that miscarriage occurs in one in four pregnancies. 

Recurrent miscarriage is a term used when women experience three or more consecutive early pregnancy losses.

Causes of miscarriage

Some common causes of miscarriage include:

• Random chromosomal and genetic variations
• One partner may be the carrier of a chromosomal variations that has no effect on their own health but if passed on can cause the embryo to be abnormal
• Presence of fibroids that are obstructing the uterine cavity
• Blood clotting disorders
• Existing medical conditions such as thyroid disorders or diabetes
• Older women are at higher risk of chromosomal variations
• Lifestyle factors such as obesity, cigarette smoking and excessive caffeine
• Immune causes such as Antiphospholipid syndrome where a woman has immune factors in her blood called antibodies which can attack the developing embryo
• High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation

Support for your next pregnancy

Our specialists have expertise in supporting women and couples who have experienced miscarriage. This includes:

• Initial testing to investigate any cause for the miscarriage, particularly if it has happened more than once
• Specialised care during the next pregnancy, including blood tests, hormonal and ultrasound monitoring to provide reassurance throughout the first stages of pregnancy.

If you have experienced one or more miscarriages and would like to investigate possible causes please make an appointment with one of our fertility specialists. Please call 1800 111 483 or book an appointment online.

Our quest to de-stigmatise miscarriage

At TasIVF, a member of Virtus Health, we want to help open-up conversations around miscarriage and de-stigmatise pregnancy loss.

We are the proud partners of a documentary available to watch on Stan, the Misunderstandings of Miscarriage, which follows Australian actress and filmmaker, Tahyna MacManus, on her four-year journey of pregnancy and miscarriage. Tahyna embarks on a quest to shed light on the physical, emotional and psychological impacts of miscarriage, as well as the lived experiences of other women in search of support and understanding.

Her quest didn't end there. Tahyna continued her journey to find out more about miscarriage by speaking to some of our fertility experts. We explore these questions together, including common myths around miscarriage, why miscarriages occur, what you as a partner can do to support each other, and advice for speaking about pregnancy loss with your friends or family members.