The Heartbreak of Recurrent Miscarriage We Don't Talk About: Searching Reasons and Answers

When it happens once, it's heartbreaking.

When it happens again, a very different kind of pain sets in—a pain of uncertainty, of wondering “why me?” and "what's wrong with my body?"

You start to question if you'll ever be able to carry a pregnancy to term.

If this sounds familiar, we want you to know—you are not alone.

But experiencing one or even two miscarriages doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have trouble in the future. We have known many couples, who struggled through multiple miscarriages but went on to have a healthy baby.

But when it happens more than once, it's known as recurrent miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss, and it affects about 1% of all women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Yes, it can feel extremely heartbreaking and isolating.

But let us tell you, that’s no reason to lose hope.

A single miscarriage is like a traffic jam on your daily commute. It's frustrating. Unexpected.

And yet, it's probably just a part of the path forward. The jam will clear out and you will be at your destination in no time.

However, recurrent miscarriages are more like a persistent issue with the roads themselves, a roadblock that keeps appearing day after day.

These cases call for special investigation to find the underlying problem so you can find a different, clearer route to your destination, i.e. becoming a mother.

So, what exactly can cause these "roadblocks" to keep appearing?

Genetic and Chromosomal Issues

By far, the most common cause of early miscarriage is a random genetic error in the embryo. Genetic or chromosomal errors account for about half of all miscarriages—most are "one‑off" developmental missteps rather than recurrent conditions.

It’s like a puzzle piece being made with the wrong shape—it just won’t fit, and the pregnancy can't continue. These are usually one-off events.

However, recurrent miscarriages are often attributed to a rare condition where one of the parents has a subtle genetic issue called a balanced chromosomal translocation. This doesn’t affect the parent’s health, but it can lead to the embryo receiving the wrong amount of genetic material.

Thankfully, there are treatments available for this.

If a genetic issue is found, your doctor might discuss options like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT).

This allows fertility specialists to check the embryos with any chromosomal abnormalities before they are transferred to the mother’s womb, select the genetically healthy embryo which significantly increases the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Uterine Issues

For a pregnancy to thrive, the uterus needs to be a perfect home.

If the uterus is the foundation of the house, then any structural issues, like scar tissue or growths like fibroids and polyps, can make it difficult for the embryos to implant successfully and the pregnancy to progress.

The good news is that many of these issues are fixable, often with a minor surgery.

Once corrected, the uterus can offer a much better environment for a baby to grow, and result in a successful pregnancy.

Hormonal and Endocrine Issues

Hormones are the body’s messengers.

If they’re not communicating correctly, a pregnancy will struggle.

Conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), or thyroid problems can all impact a pregnancy’s safe progress to term.

Modern medical science has developed many methods to identify these issues with simple blood tests and can be managed with medication before or during pregnancy.

For example, a thyroid condition can be easily checked through a blood test and medications can be applied to correct its regulation.

A 2019 study known as the PRISM trial also showed a significant benefit for women with three or more miscarriages who were treated with progesterone, a hormone that helps make the uterine lining more receptive to a pregnancy.

While this isn’t a magic cure for everyone, it’s a promising avenue for those who had to face multiple losses.

Immune System and Blood Clotting

Sometimes, the body's own immune system can cause trouble.

Certain autoimmune or blood clotting disorders can make your blood "sticky," leading to small clots in the vessels that supply the placenta. This can cut off vital nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus.

These conditions can be diagnosed with blood tests, and if found, can be treated with blood-thinning medication like heparin and aspirin to help ensure a steady flow of blood to the growing baby.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

We can’t emphasize this enough—your overall health plays a huge role in your fertility journey.

Multiple studies found that smoking, excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption, and being significantly overweight are linked to a higher risk of miscarriage.

Most of these lifestyle factors are in your control.

lifestyle factors and female fertility.png

Making positive lifestyle changes—like quitting smoking, reducing alcohol (or stopping altogether), and maintaining a healthy weight can make a big difference in supporting a healthier pregnancy.

Dealing with recurrent miscarriage takes an immense emotional and mental toll.

While stress and anxiety aren’t a direct cause of miscarriage, they are a huge part of the experience.

Find support through counseling or support groups that can help you cope with the emotional weight of this journey.

A Final Word of Hope

Please remember that even if you've had two miscarriages, there is still a very good chance that your next pregnancy will result in a healthy, live birth.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists research finds that approximately 65% of women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy.

It’s not just the stats, we have witnessed this many, many times.

You don't have to face this alone.

Take a deep breath. And know that there are answers and treatments out there to help you on your path to building your family.

Further reading :-

ACOG.org – Repeated Miscarriages FAQ: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/repeated-miscarriages

ASRM – Evaluation and treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss (committee opinion): https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/evaluation-and-treatment-of-recurrent-pregnancy-loss-a-committee-opinion-2012/

PubMed – Heparin/aspirin treatment in APS pregnancy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10898270/

RareChromosome Disorder Support Group – Balanced translocations factsheet: https://rarechromo.org/media/information/Other%20Topics/Balanced%20translocations%20FTNW.pdf

Miscarriage Association (UK) – Causes of recurrent miscarriage: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/information/miscarriage/recurrent-miscarriage/causes-of-recurrent-miscarriage/

Fertile.com – Recurrent miscarriage causes, support options and treatments: https://fertile.com/recurrent-miscarriage-and-treatments/

Vocal.com – Important Facts to Know if You're Considering IVF: https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/7-important-facts-to-know-if-you-re-considering-ivf-best-ivf-hospital-in-bangalore%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}

NEJM.org – PRISM Trials for PCOS: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1813730