Recurrent Miscarriage Evaluation: What to Expect

Having a miscarriage is heartbreaking. Having more than one can feel overwhelming, confusing, and isolating.

If you’ve had two or more pregnancy losses, it’s natural to wonder why and whether there’s anything you can do. Recurrent miscarriage affects many people, and in some cases, doctors can find the underlying cause.

At CARE Fertility in Bedford and Fort Worth, Texas, our reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists offer comprehensive evaluations for recurrent miscarriage. Here’s what you can expect during the process and how it can help guide your next steps. 

What is recurrent miscarriage?

Recurrent miscarriage is having two or more pregnancy losses. While miscarriage itself is common, recurrent miscarriage isn’t, affecting about 5% of women. 

The most common cause of miscarriage is a chromosomal abnormality that occurs at the time of fertilization. These abnormalities are typically random and not due to an underlying medical condition. However, risk increases with age.

When to schedule an evaluation

It’s always appropriate to speak with your doctor after any miscarriage. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a thorough evaluation after a second miscarriage. 

In most cases, an evaluation can uncover the cause, which may reduce the risk of a third pregnancy loss. As specialists in infertility, the CARE Fertility team offers advanced testing and treatment options that can help you grow your family. 

What to expect during miscarriage evaluation

You can expect a compassionate yet thorough miscarriage evaluation at CARE Fertility. Our goal is to find the potential causes and create a personalized plan moving forward.

Your evaluation begins with a detailed review of your medical, reproductive, and pregnancy history. This may include prior genetic or chromosomal testing of fetal tissue, if available.

Based on your history, we may recommend additional testing to better understand the cause of your pregnancy loss. Testing looks for:

Anatomic problems

We may request ultrasound imaging, a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), or a hysteroscopy. These tests help us find structural issues that may interfere with pregnancy. 

Chromosomal abnormalities

We usually do genetic testing on both partners to find inherited chromosomal conditions. Sperm testing may also evaluate DNA integrity, as damaged DNA can affect embryo development. When available, fetal tissue testing can provide additional insight.

Immunologic imbalances

A mother’s immune system may reject the fetus. Immunologic blood tests can help confirm or rule out an immunologic imbalance that might explain recurrent pregnancy loss. 

Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal imbalances can increase the risk of miscarriage or affect development of the uterine lining. Hormone testing can help uncover this problem.

Not all tests are necessary for every patient. Your care team tailors the evaluation based on your individual history and needs. 

Treatment options based on findings

Treating recurrent miscarriage depends on the evaluation’s findings. You may need surgery to fix an anatomical problem or preimplantation embryo screening and in vitro fertilization if the underlying cause is genetic. 

Even if we can’t pinpoint the cause of your recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy is still possible. 

Recurrent pregnancy loss is devastating, but an evaluation can put you on the path to successful treatment. To learn more about recurrent miscarriage evaluation or schedule an appointment at CARE Fertility, call the office near you today or request an appointment online.