- Main causes of spontaneous abortion
- 1. Problems in the uterus
- 2. Hormonal changes
- 3. Thyroid diseases
- 4. Polycystic ovary syndrome
- 5. Changes in the chromosome
- 6. Infections caused by viruses or bacteria
- 7. Alcohol, cigarettes and excess coffee
- 8. Autoimmune disease
- 9. Use of medicines
- 10. Low weight or obesity
- What to do if you suspect a miscarriage
- What is the treatment for abortion
- Complete abortion
- Incomplete abortion
- When to get pregnant again
The causes of spontaneous abortion are very varied but can involve immune changes, the woman's age, infections caused by viruses or bacteria, stress, cigarette use and also due to the use of drugs.
Spontaneous abortion is when the pregnancy ends before 22 weeks of gestation, and the fetus dies, without the woman having done anything she could control. Severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy are the main symptoms of miscarriage. Find out about other signs and symptoms, and what to do if you suspect a miscarriage, by clicking here.
Main causes of spontaneous abortion
The following are the most common causes of natural abortion, a situation that can occur in any pregnant woman, in early pregnancy:
1. Problems in the uterus
The formation of the woman's uterus is responsible for up to 10% of abortions that occur spontaneously and within these changes, the most common is a situation called isthmus-cervical insufficiency. Other possible causes related to the uterus are when the woman has: bicornuate, septate, arched uterus, deformation in the endometrium caused by the presence of polyps or fibroids that hinder the implantation of the embryo in the uterus.
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How to treat: In some cases, it may be necessary to perform surgery to improve the anatomy of the uterus, allowing a healthy pregnancy until the baby is born.
2. Hormonal changes
The lack of progesterone is the most common cause of abortion caused by hormonal changes. This can happen when a woman uses hormonal medications without medical advice during pregnancy
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How to treat: Take drugs that regulate the amount of progesterone in the bloodstream.
3. Thyroid diseases
The thyroid disorders that can cause miscarriage are hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and also the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies.
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How to treat: Hypothyroidism can be treated with the use of drugs such as Propiltiouracil. Corticosteroids can be useful to treat anti-thyroid antibodies.
4. Polycystic ovary syndrome
Women who have this syndrome have difficulty ovulating and may not ovulate every month and in addition, they have almost a 50% chance of having a miscarriage
- How to treat: Some studies report that taking metformin during pregnancy can be useful to prevent a new abortion, but always under the indication of the obstetrician who is accompanying the pregnancy.
5. Changes in the chromosome
When the chromosomes of the father and mother are not well formed and give rise to an embryo with some chromosomal alteration, the woman's body can reject this embryo, leading to spontaneous abortion. In this case, the father and mother are in good health and find no reason for the loss of the baby, but this cause represents 50% of spontaneous abortions.
- How to treat: If the woman has more than 2 spontaneous abortions, the couple should have tests to try to identify the cause of this repetition and also do a genetic test to find out more about their health. In this case, genetic counseling can be very useful.
6. Infections caused by viruses or bacteria
Some diseases that increase the risk of miscarriage are sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, syphilis, mycoplasma and other diseases like brucellosis and gonococci.
- How to treat: Use the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, after identifying which STD you have and the bacteria involved. Learn how to identify and treat the most common STDs.
7. Alcohol, cigarettes and excess coffee
Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy and exposure to cigarette smoke and excessive consumption of caffeine-rich foods such as coffee, black tea and coca cola are also related to the increase in cases of miscarriage. The ideal amount of caffeine that can be consumed during pregnancy should be no more than 4 cups of espresso per day. For more information, see here.
- How to treat: The solution is simple and consists of avoiding all these factors during pregnancy.
8. Autoimmune disease
When the father has an autoimmune disease, there is a greater risk of miscarriage, even if the couple is in good health and has all normal tests. In this case, the woman's body reacts to the embryo's presence with a strange being, which begins to be attacked, leading to abortion.
- How to treat: Treatment can be done with a type of vaccine prepared specifically for each woman, containing parts of the partner's blood. She receives these vaccines 2 or 3 times and does more tests to see if her body no longer reacts to the man's cells and is then ready for a new pregnancy attempt. Find out more details about the abortion vaccine here.
9. Use of medicines
Taking medication without medical advice can also cause abortion, so in case of pain or discomfort you should inform the obstetrician and not take medication on your own, nor teas because some are contraindicated. See examples of remedies that can cause abortion by clicking here.
- How to treat: Do not take medication without medical advice, especially if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
10. Low weight or obesity
When a woman is very underweight or very overweight it can also increase the risk of miscarriage because the body can understand that it is not in the best condition for the baby's good development.
- How to treat: You must be accompanied by a nutritionist to know how to eat properly to ensure good fetal development. See how many pounds you should put on during pregnancy.
What to do if you suspect a miscarriage
If you have signs and symptoms such as severe abdominal pain and blood loss from the vagina, especially after intimate contact, you should go to the doctor for tests such as ultrasound to check that the baby and the placenta are okay.
The doctor may indicate that the woman should rest and avoid intimate contact for 15 days, but it may also be necessary to take analgesic and antispasmodic drugs to relax the uterus and avoid the contractions that lead to abortion.
What is the treatment for abortion
Treatment varies according to the type of abortion the woman has undergone, and may be:
It occurs when the fetus dies and is completely eliminated from the uterus, in which case no specific treatment is necessary. The doctor may do an ultrasound scan to check that the uterus is clean and advise a consultation with a psychologist when the woman is very upset. When a woman has had a miscarriage before, she may need to do more specific tests to try to find the cause and prevent it from happening again.
Occurs when the fetus dies but is not completely eliminated from the uterus, with fetal or placental remains inside the woman's uterus, the doctor may indicate the use of drugs such as Cytotec for complete elimination and then may perform a curettage or manual aspiration or vacuum, to remove the remains of tissues and clean the woman's uterus, preventing infections.
When there are signs of uterine infection such as a foul odor, vaginal discharge, severe abdominal pain, a rapid heartbeat and fever, which is usually caused by unlawful abortions, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics in the form of an injection and uterine scraping. In the most severe cases it may be necessary to remove the uterus to save the woman's life.
When to get pregnant again
After having an abortion, the woman must receive professional psychological support, from family and friends to recover emotionally from the trauma caused by the loss of the baby.
The woman may try to get pregnant again after 3 months of abortion, hoping that her period will return to normal, having at least 2 menstrual cycles or after this period when she feels safe again to try a new pregnancy.
