Early pregnancy loss (Abortion or miscarriage) is defined as the termination of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation (dates from the last menstrual period) or below a fetal weight of 500g. It occurs in approximately 1 in 300 pregnancies.

Recurrent Miscarriage ( RM ) is classically defined as three or more consecutive spontaneous miscarriages.

Primary – Where all conceptions have ended in pregnancy loss.

Secondary - One (Usually the first) pregnancy has proceeded to viability and the rest have ended in abortions.

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Risk of Recurrence

• If the patient has 1 abortion, the risk of RM is 5%
• If patient has 2 abortions, the risk of RM is 20%
• If the patient has 3 or more abortions, the risk becomes 40%.

A definite systemic cause is rarely found and this increases the frustration in both the patient and the obstetrician, as both tend to believe that “there must be some thing wrong”. The majority of patients will have to be given an explanation that they can understand but really not accept. In spite of this, a full investigation will have to be carried out.

Etiology

• Genetic factors (Parental chromosomal abnormalities)
• Uterine anomalies
• Cervical incompetence
• Endocrinological disorders – Thyroid, Diabetes and PCOS
• Immunological factors – Auto-immune disorders like anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, abnormal maternal immune response and systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Coagulation disorders
• Infections – Toxoplasma, Chlamydia, herpes and cytomegalovirus
• Medical disorders – Heart disease, hypertension, respiratory disease and other systemic illnesses.
• Environmental factors – Smoking, alcohol and drug abuse

Investigations

• Anti-Chlamydial antibodies
• Serological tests for syphilis (STS)
• ASAB
• HBsAg
• HIV
• Diagnostic hysterolaparoscopy / HSG
• Sperm morphology
• Urine culture & Sensitivity
• Glycemic profile
• Oral glucose tolerance test
• TORCH panel (IgM & IgG)
• Thyroid profile
• Karyotyping of the couple to exclude balanced translocation
• Karyotyping of abortus
• Antiphospholipid Antibodies work up
• Platelet count

Uterine Anomalies (Developmental fusion defects)

Congenital abnormalities of the uterus and its appendages are relatively common and contribute to the problems of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and poor outcome in pregnancy. Cervical cerclage is often indicated for prevention of preterm labour due to these anomalies. In addition they may also give rise to bleeding problems, painful menses (Dysmenorrhea), pain during intercourse (Dyspareunia) and even absence of menses (Amenorrhea). Because the embryological origin of the ovaries is separate, patients with uterine anomalies have normal ovaries and ovarian function. Congenital mullerian anomalies range from 1:500 to 1:2000.

These are the list of anomalies encountered among our infertile population.