Miscarriage is a significant risk for women once they hit their mid-30s, with one in five couples experiencing it during their first year of trying to get pregnant. It’s especially distressing because it feels out of our control — and that’s because it is. There are so many unknowns when it comes to why some couples experience miscarriage, making it confusing and upsetting for anyone who has experienced it. But there might be more science to this than we think.
A new study suggests that there may be warning signs for other health problems in women who have experienced a miscarriage. It’s not just about the age at which you get pregnant and how your body reacts to that, but an indication of future health issues — such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases — that could lead to a higher risk of having another miscarriage or other complications when giving birth later on in life.
Miscarriage and risk for other health problems
Miscarriage is a significant risk for women once they hit their mid-30s, with one in five couples experiencing it during their first year of trying to get pregnant. This rate increases even more for women aged 35 and beyond. But what happens in the body to cause this? An interesting new study has provided some insight into this, suggesting that there may be warning signs for other health problems in women who have experienced a miscarriage.
The findings of this study are based on 197 women who had experienced a miscarriage. They also took blood tests to look for signs of diabetes and autoimmune disorders — two conditions that can be especially troubling in pregnancy if left untreated — and compared this with a control group of women who had never experienced a miscarriage.
Diabetes
For those who suffer from type 2 diabetes, the impact on pregnancy can be dire. It can lead to serious complications like pre-eclampsia and even stillbirth. So it’s not surprising that many women with this condition are nervous about getting pregnant. While the causative factors aren’t fully understood in all cases, research has found that women who had experienced a previous miscarriage were more likely to have diabetes.
This is a sign that there may be underlying metabolic issues that are impacting their fertility. So while you can take steps to address these problems through diet and exercise, if the underlying cause is undiagnosed and left untreated, it can lead to other complications in pregnancy.
Autoimmune disorders
Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system begins to attack healthy cells in your body. Such disorders affect up to 10% of pregnancies and can cause serious complications for both mother and baby. The study found that women who had experienced a previous miscarriage were more likely to have autoimmunity antibodies, like anti-Ro and anti-SSA. This indicates that the body is producing antibodies to fight against its tissues.
Reproductive problems
Several serious reproductive problems can cause recurrent miscarriages. These include blocked or damaged fallopian tubes or a low sperm count. A doctor may recommend genetic testing if you’ve had recurrent miscarriages since miscarriage can be linked to chromosomal abnormalities.
The study found that women who had experienced a previous miscarriage were more likely to have abnormalities in their chromosomes. This could mean that miscarriage is the body’s way of trying to expel a baby that has a higher chance of being born with a genetic disorder.
Irregular uterine growth and development
As we age, our uteruses become less vascularized — meaning they have less blood flow — making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant and grow. The study found that women who had experienced a previous miscarriage were more likely to have an underdeveloped uterus. This could be the result of irregular uterine growth and development during early puberty. Or it could be the result of lower estrogen levels, as a common symptom of menopause is decreased estrogen production.
Is it too late to try to get pregnant again?
If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, this is a distressing time. But it’s important to discuss your feelings with a medical professional who can help rule out other health problems that could be impacting your chance of getting pregnant. Miscarriage is a significant risk for women once they hit their mid-30s, with one in five couples experiencing it during their first year of trying to get pregnant.
This rate increases even more for women aged 35 and beyond. While the reasons for this aren’t fully understood, the study suggests that there may be warning signs for other health problems in women who have experienced a miscarriage. These include diabetes, autoimmune disorders and chromosomal abnormalities.
Summary
Miscarriage is a significant risk for women once they hit their mid-30s, with one in five couples experiencing it during their first year of trying to get pregnant. The study suggests that there may be warning signs for other health problems in women who have experienced a miscarriage, including diabetes, autoimmune disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, it’s important to discuss your feelings with a medical professional who can help rule out health problems that could be impacting your chance of getting pregnant again.
