Q: “The women in my family have a history of miscarriage. Does this mean that my chances for miscarrying are greater than most women’s?”
Answer from Dr. Larry L. Veltman, medical director of obstetrics and gynecology at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center: Probably not. If there is a family history of miscarriage, it does not necessarily mean that your risk for miscarriage is increased. The condition of “recurrent miscarriage” or habitual abortion” is rarely hereditary.
The risk of miscarriage for any pregnancy is about 15 percent. Even if a woman has two miscarriages in a row, the chances are still about 80-85% that she will have a normal pregnancy.
If a woman has had three consecutive miscarriages her statistical odds of miscarrying again increase significantly and here it is appropriate to begin some tests to determine if a cause might be found. It’s important to stress that these miscarriages should be consecutive. For example, if a woman has a miscarriage, then has another healthy pregnancy that is delivered at term, then has two miscarriages, and then has another child, her risk of future miscarriages is probably not increased.
Possible explanations for recurrent miscarriages include certain infectious conditions, structural abnormalities of the uterus, chromosomal or other genetic abnormalities, autoimmune disorders and lifestyle issues such as smoking and alcohol use.
The risk of miscarriage also increases somewhat with age. By the time a woman reaches her 40s, her risk is probably 20 percent or greater.
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Last updated: July 2003
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