601
Miscarriage, Recurrent
Miscarriage, and
Pregnancy Termination
Chapter 60
Victoria Myers, MD
❍ What is the definition of miscarriage?
Pregnancy loss before 20 weeks gestational age.
❍ What is “habitual aborter” or recurrent pregnancy loss?
Three or more consecutive spontaneous abortion (SAB).
❍ What percentage of pregnancies end in SAB?
12% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies end in SAB, whereas 13% to 26% of unrecognized pregnancies
end in SAB.
❍ What is the incidence of two or more consecutive SABs?
0.4% to 2%.
❍ What is the risk of subsequent SAB in a patient with three consecutive miscarriages?
30% to 45%.
❍ What is the risk of subsequent SAB in a patient with three consecutive miscarriages and with at least one
liveborn?
30%.
❍ Name three independent risk factors for SAB.
Increasing parity, maternal age, and paternal age.
❍ What are causes of recurrent SAB?
Genetic, anatomic, immunologic, inherited thrombophilias, infectious, endocrine, and environmental.