Causes and symptoms of spontaneous abortion

Today, one of the most pressing issues faced by reproductive medicine is pregnancy loss. A pregnancy that ends before the obstetric term of 22 weeks is classified as a spontaneous miscarriage. At present, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Women whose three consecutive pregnancies have ended in miscarriage may be diagnosed with "recurrent pregnancy loss".

It should be noted that the causes that lead to the spontaneous termination of pregnancy are diverse. A miscarriage represents the female body's response to a complex internal or external situation. Moreover, in many cases, not a single cause but a whole set of factors triggers a spontaneous termination of pregnancy. Statistics in modern reproductive medicine indicate that in 50 percent of miscarriages the cause is genetic abnormalities in the structure or number of chromosomes in the embryo's cells. Science today almost completely rejects the notion that chromosomal errors are inherited from the parents, and adverse external factors are most often cited among the causes of disturbances in pregnancy development. Another common cause of miscarriage is infectious diseases. Tonsillitis, influenza, pneumonia during pregnancy, as well as various venereal diseases, can be detrimental. A spontaneous termination of pregnancy can be caused by inflammatory processes in organs only indirectly related to the female reproductive system. In particular, acute pyelonephritis and appendicitis sometimes lead to miscarriage. It should be noted that gynecologic problems are in many cases caused by a condition such as isthmic-cervical insufficiency of the cervix. Such developmental defects often cause spontaneous termination of pregnancy in the second trimester.

One of the causes of pregnancy loss cited by physicians is a maternal age that is too young or, conversely, advanced. Hormonal imbalances provoke disruption of the normal course of pregnancy. It should be noted that today gynecology is already able to correct problems of this kind. Therefore, even in the presence of such disorders, timely and competent diagnosis and treatment allow a woman to carry and give birth to a baby. Physical exertion and falls during pregnancy are often cited as causes of spontaneous abortion, but these events very rarely are the true cause of miscarriage. Usually such overexertion or injuries are an additional catalyst that activates a process already underway.

If the first signs of a threatened termination of pregnancy are detected in time and medical help is sought, it is usually possible to save the baby. The most telling symptoms of a threat to the pregnancy are pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, as well as the onset of bleeding. In these cases, it is absolutely necessary to consult a doctor.

Nevertheless, even after a spontaneous abortion, every woman can carry and give birth to a healthy baby by strictly following the recommendations of a competent gynecologist.