Even though about one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, it is still very difficult to know the exact cause and most
women never find out the cause of their loss, even if they have investigations. This can be very hard to accept as is it is
natural to want a reason for this to have happened. Many women blame themselves and feel that it is something they have done
or not done, or that they are being punished for their past and that has caused the loss, the fact of the matter is that
in most cases your miscarriage is unlikely to have happened because of anything you did or didn’t do.
The main causes of miscarriage are thought to be:
Genetic: In about half of all early miscarriages, the baby does not develop normally right from the start and cannot
survive.
Hormonal: Women with very irregular periods may find it harder to conceive and when they do, are more likely to miscarry.
Immunological: Problems within the blood vessels which supply the placenta can lead to miscarriage.
Infection: Minor infections like coughs and colds are not harmful, but a very high temperature and some illnesses or
infections, such as German measles, may cause miscarriage.
Anatomical: If the cervix (neck of the womb) is weak, it may start to open as the uterus (womb) becomes heavier in
later pregnancy and this may lead to miscarriage. An irregular-shaped uterus can mean that there is not enough room for the
baby to grow. Large fibroids may cause miscarriage in later pregnancy.
It can be very difficult for you, your partner and your wider family to deal with a miscarriage but help is out
there if you need it, for more information, help and support go to
