Fertility After a Miscarriage: What You Should Know
At Houston Fertility Center, we offer state-of-the-arrt infertility treatment for men and women, able to address various needs and concerns. While many times our treatments are used to help fertilize eggs and ensure successful pregnancy, we also have treatments to address issues with a woman's ability to carry a child to term.
Numerous patients have had questions about miscarriage and how it affect future fertility. Caution and concern is warranted given the toll a miscarriage and multiple miscarriages can have. Let's consider the matter in more detail.
When do miscarriages occur?
When using the term "miscarriage," it refers to the loss of a pregnancy before a woman reaches her 20th week. Most times this is the result of a chromosomal abnormality, though a woman's general health may also affect the viability of the developing child. Typically the cause if the miscarriage is unknown.
How common are miscarriages?
It's estimated that between 10 percent and 20 percent of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. It should be noted that this number may be higher. Some miscarriages occur very early in a pregnancy; so early, in fact, that a woman doesn't even realize that she was pregnant.
Risk Factors for Having a Miscarriage
Common risk factors for having a miscarriage include:
- Advanced age (women 35 and older)
- Presence of bacterial or viral infections
- Exposure to harmful chemicals or medicine
- Diabetes and other chronic conditions
- Being significantly overweight or underweight
- Use of tobacco products, alcohol, or hard drugs during pregnancy
- Heavy intake of caffeine during pregnancy
- Multiple miscarriages in the past
Is there a chance of another miscarriage?
Most miscarriages occur only once in many women.
That said, it is possible for multiple miscarriages to occur. Studies have found that fewer than 5 percent of women have two consecutive miscarriages, and only 1 percent of women will experience three or more consecutive miscarriages.
Should I undergo any special medical tests following a miscarriage?
Women who experience just one miscarriage but are in generally good health do not necessarily require any medical testing before attempting to become pregnant again.
If a woman suffers from a chronic conditions, is older, and/or has experienced more than one miscarriage in the past, it's a good idea to undergo medical testing to check on health and overall wellness before attempting to conceive again.
What if I run a risk of another miscarriage?
If you run the risk of experiencing another miscarriage, it's important that you consider other options for having child instead of potentially losing another pregnancy and affect your physical and mental health in the process.
Many couples consider a surrogate carrier, which is a woman selected to carry a baby to term thanks to the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This means that the baby will still genetically be the couple's, and the woman will simply ensure a healthy pregnancy and successful childbirth.
If surrogate carriers and IVF treatment are not ideal, couples can consider adoption as an option. We'll be more than happy to go over these matters in greater detail during a personal consultation.
Schedule a Consultation at Houston Fertility Center
For more information about your options for starting a family of your own, be sure to contact our team of fertility specialists today. The doctors at Houston Fertility Center will work with you and help you make the best possible choices with regard to overall health and wellness.
