Many women, when experiencing suspicious symptoms or even a late period, immediately suspect pregnancy. However, at the first sign of menstruation or bleeding, they claim that it was just a false alarm, which is not always true. In many cases, the woman goes through a natural miscarriage and doesn’t even realize it.
A natural miscarriage or spontaneous abortion as it is called, is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and occurs up to 20 weeks of gestation, with about 80% of cases happening between the 10th and 12th week. Usually, this happens because the fetus is not developing properly and the uterus itself eliminates it. Even though it is considered a common gestational factor, it is not always easy for the woman to process, and in many cases psychological support is needed. Some factors indicate a higher chance of a woman experiencing a natural miscarriage, such as older age, uterine problems or a history of previous miscarriages, use of certain medications, as well as unhealthy habits like excessive drinking and smoking.
The signs of a natural miscarriage are not always noticeable, so many go unnoticed. For some, a slight bleeding easily mistaken for menstruation can happen. For others, the symptoms can be painful and traumatic, such as strong cramps accompanied by heavy bleeding. After a blood test, pregnancy may be confirmed, but an ultrasound will confirm the absence of the embryo or, in the case of a missed miscarriage, the lack of its movement. In the case of a missed miscarriage, the woman should decide together with her gynecologist the best way to resolve the situation, taking into account her physical and emotional condition. The options are curettage, aspiration, or waiting for a spontaneous miscarriage, where medications can help speed up the process.
What Causes a Natural Miscarriage?
For women trying to achieve their long-awaited positive result, some precautions can be taken to help reduce the risks of natural miscarriage. If you have a history of miscarriages, your gynecologist must be informed first, and knowing the cause of a previous miscarriage helps even more with proper treatment. In most cases, the issue leading to a natural miscarriage is a malformation of the embryo, and not necessarily due to problems with the parents’ genes. Malformation can occur during cell or chromosome division, preventing the fetus from developing as expected. In other cases, a blighted ovum can occur, where the embryo doesn’t even form, or in a molar pregnancy, which is a rare error that can happen during fertilization.
Factors such as working during pregnancy, exercising, having sexual relations, and being startled are not considered causes of natural miscarriage, obviously within healthy measures for the pregnant woman! Women exposed to chemicals and toxins at work or high radiation may have issues during pregnancy, including natural miscarriage. If the natural miscarriage is due to problems with the cervix, your gynecologist may suggest a suture, or cerclage, to keep the cervix closed until the baby is ready to be born. This is why all medical care and follow-up, as well as knowing your health history and previous complications, are necessary to ensure proper treatment and reduce the risks of miscarriage.
Women with health problems such as uncontrolled diabetes, thrombophilia, thyroid issues, kidney disease, and obesity, as well as those with certain infections or who are carriers of rubella, syphilis, gonorrhea, listeriosis, and HIV, are at higher risk for natural miscarriage.
