There are different reasons due to which the foetus in the womb fails to survive. This is referred to as pregnancy loss. Nowadays, miscarriage implies and serves as a sobriquet to pregnancy loss.

What is miscarriage?
Miscarriage is pregnancy loss that occurs before 20 weeks, before the fetus is able to survive outside the womb. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester or 12 weeks of pregnancy. As many as 50 percent of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage, because many losses occur before a woman realizes she is pregnant.

Most miscarriages are the result of chromosomal abnormalities in the developing embryo. In fact, about 7 percent of all pregnancy losses — miscarriages or not — have chromosomal abnormalities, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Studies reveal that 40 percent of pregnancies detected by a blood test end in miscarriage and 25 percent of pregnancies detected by a fetal heart beat end in miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage increases as a woman gets older.

The causes of miscarriage
There are various reasons due to which a miscarriage happens, some of which are:

Chromosomal abnormalities
Miscarriages caused by chromosomal abnormalities are random occurrences. More than half of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities-problems with the structure or number of chromosomes in the embryo or with the genes that the chromosomes carry.

Maternal disease:
Conditions such as lupus and other autoimmune disorders, congenital heart disease, severe kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, thyroid disease, and intrauterine infection are associated with higher-than-average miscarriage rates

Hormonal imbalances:
Hormone imbalances (for example, progesterone deficiencies) are also known to cause msscarriages

Immune system disorders:
Women with high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA)-substances that increase the clotting tendencies of blood-are at increased risk of miscarriage.

Recreational drug and alcohol use:
Using recreational drugs and consuming large quantities of alcohol increase your chances of suffering a miscarriage.

Apart from the above mentioned reasons, a miscarriage could also be caused due to

• Lupus and other autoimmune disorders
• Severe kidney disease
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Intrauterine infection

How to check for pregnancy Loss?
Prevention is always better than cure and it applies best here. You should constantly consult your family practitioner and undergo necessary prescribed tests. These tests would help predict any disorder which could prove to be a risk for your baby.

Among the tests conducted, is Genetic testing for recurrent pregnancy loss, which could help you identify treatments for any possible disorder.

Miscarriages are the most common type of pregnancy loss, occurring in approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of confirmed pregnancies, according to ACOG. Most miscarriages happen during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, and the vast majority go unnoticed. They can occur up to the 20th week of pregnancy.

Most miscarriages are the result of chromosomal abnormalities in the developing embryo. In fact, about 7 percent of all pregnancy losses — miscarriages or not — have chromosomal abnormalities, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).