Miscarriage: Top five facts

1. Miscarriages are common
   Miscarriage is also known as a spontaneous abortion or pregnancy ending on its own. It occurs in around 10-20 per cent of all recognised pregnancies. Although, the actual percentage may be as high as 50 per cent.
   
   Many miscarriages occur without the woman ever being aware of her pregnancy. This percentage can increase with age and other social factors. So before you blame yourself for something you might have done, realise that miscarriages are common. They usually have nothing to do with you or your behaviour.
2. There are different causes and types of miscarriage
   Vaginal spotting or bleeding, cramping or abdominal pain, and fluid or tissue passing from the vagina are all signs that you’re having a miscarriage. These miscarriage symptoms are part of a process. Miscarriage is not a single event. It can unfold in different ways for different reasons.
   
   There are a number of potential causes for the different types of miscarriages. The most common cause is chromosomal abnormality in the fetus, which is often the result of problems with the sperm or egg. Problems in the uterus or cervix or other disorders can also be responsible for miscarriage.
3. Your lifestyle could be a contributing factor
   Most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities. There is little you can do to prevent them. However, you can get as healthy as possible in order to provide a fertile bodily environment for conceiving.
   
   Healthy eating and regular exercise can help you avoid miscarriage. One should avoid smoking and alcohol as both of them increase the risk of pregnancy loss and can harm a developing fetus.
4. Treatment may be necessary
   Any bleeding during pregnancy should be immediately reported to your doctor. Miscarriage is not the only cause of vaginal bleeding, so it is important to get the correct diagnosis.
   If the bleeding is heavy, or if you have severe abdominal pain (while pregnant), you should seek medical help immediately.
   
   Once the cause of bleeding is known, your doctor can advise you the treatment. Most women who miscarry early in their pregnancy will not need any treatment. In some cases, a procedure may be necessary to remove any tissue remaining in the uterus.
   
   Psychologically, feelings of grief, loss and depression are common after a miscarriage, and keeping these feelings bottled up may only make them worse. Sometimes the best treatment is simply to discuss these feelings with your spouse, a family member or a close friend.
5. Most women who miscarry can get pregnant again
   Having a miscarriage doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant again. As already discussed, miscarriage is not uncommon, and those who’ve experienced a miscarriage have only a slightly elevated risk for another miscarriage in the future.
    

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