Readers Respond: Finding a Cause for Recurrent Miscarriages

After two to three miscarriages, it makes sense to have tests done to rule out potentially treatable causes. Having these tests done can leave you feeling a range of emotions. You may simultaneously be hoping to find a problem and also hoping not to. If you have had testing after multiple miscarriages, how did you feel about the testing process? And did the tests end up finding a cause for your miscarriages?

Unexplained recurrent miscarriage

I had three miscarriages in one year, at the six week mark each time. I have pcos. The hospital investigated and nothing showed up. Here I am a year later and pregnant again, am almost six weeks. Am scared to go to the hospital for a scan and terrified something will go wrong. Am forty one years old.

—Guest theresa

4 miscarriages in 2 years

I've just started my 4th miscarriage in 2 yrs, all at 5 weeks. Had genetic, structural, hormonal & sticky blood tests - all normal. It is so frustrating and depressing - I just want a reason for this, otherwise how many more times will I have to go through this before I have a successful pregnancy? If there's nothing wrong, why aren't these babies implanting properly?

—Guest Cate

3 miscarriages

Well I had 3 miscarriages and I'm 19 all happened in less than a year. One just disappeared off the face of the earth because I guess it was that small. The next was at 6 weeks and the last at about 7 weeks. I know I'm young but you would think I could carry a healthy baby by now. I'm not trying anymore because of school but in two years something has got to give even if I have to go to a fertility doctor.

—Guest elsy

Frustrated

We have been trying to have a baby for 5 years. In that time I have had 4 miscarriages. They have all ended unexpectedly at 5-6 weeks. My husband and I have been through every test in the book and they cannot find an explanation as to why this keeps happening. Only with infertility issues is it acceptable to make the diagnosis as simply “bad luck.” I am frustrated, angry and sad. I would rather have found something wrong and know it is either A) treatable or B) that I cannot ever carry a child to full term. As it is we are living with this huge unknown where we are told to keep trying and given drugs to release more eggs in the hope that eventually a good one will stick. I am at the point that I honestly don’t know how much more I can take. How many unexplained miscarriages should one go through before giving up?

—Guest L

Miscarriages

You should be tested for Factor V Leiden, a clotting disorder which has been implicated in miscarriages.

—Guest susan

Miscarriages

Hello, hope I can share some hope and possibly a solution to some of your devastating losses. I had over twelve miscarriages, and after many tests it was found that my prolactin level was 151 then had an MRI and found that I had a benign Pituitary Tumor in my Pituitary Gland. I am fourty six now so not trying to get pregnant any longer but my Prayer is that you will asks your doctors to check your prolactins and also have yours and your mates have both your chromosomes checked by a fertility specialist! May God Bless and bring you the child you so deserve and want.

—Kathrine123

3 pregnancies...0 babies

My first pregnancy was completely unexpected, but so welcomed. I was 11 weeks when I miscarried, it was twins. My 2nd pregnancy about 5 months after I miscarried during 7 week. It took us 17 months to try and successfully conceive again. My 3rd was 2 weeks ago at 5 weeks. My doctor didn't run any tests,we found out we were pregnant in his office and he still didn't order any blood test or anything He didn't even see me until after I had miscarried. I want to give up, but I WANT TO BE A MOTHER so so much. Trying again in a few months. Finally going to a fertility specialist.

—Guest Isabella

5 time loser

I've had 2 pregnancies that ended in giving birth to living children. Before my 2nd I miscarried at 10 wks. A yr after my son was born I lost another at 13 wks, the following yr at 14 wks. In 9 mons I lost another at 16 wks, and finally a yr after that I lost yet another at 12 wks, but the last one was different. I changed ob's. Finally I had a ob that was gonna help me find a reason to why this was happening b4 it happened again, but alas. The genetic test result came in 3 days after going to the er, waiting 8 hrs to get an ultrasound, bleeding and being ignored. Alone and scared, knowing history would be repeating itself. But it was so hard, cause this time I had an early ultrasound, I had seen my baby, seen the heartbeat, how long had I been walking around with baby already gone. So the results say I have one copy of mthfr, but when I did research, says only those with 2 copies are at risk of repeat losses. So what is happening? I know I have children already, but it still hurts.

—Guest trinity

8 miscarriages

Never been on bcps and been through 8 miscarriages in 14 years. The doctors have ran every imaginable test but still come up with the same thing. Unexplained recurrent miscarriages. They all start out great but when I hit week 5 that is when I start bleeding and loose them every time.

—Guest Gail

It's depressing

I had three miscarriages and my doctor ran some tests and yet could not detect the problem. One was 10 weeks, 8 weeks and 3 weeks. I dont know but life is a gamble, sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. It's either way but I will try seven times again and I know I will be successful with one. I pray that god will answer my prayers. Please help me pray. Thank you.

—Guest melissa mc Gowan-Wright

3 miscarriages

I have had 3 miscarriages years apart. My family doctor sent me to a gyno specialist who ran tests only after 3 miscarriages: hormone, antibody, immune, genetic, and a full internal exam of ovaries and uterus. Everything came up normal. My diagnosis is for unknown reasons and to try again and then they will do more tests when pregnant. It's so frustrating and annoying. I had my 1st miscarage in a hospital then had the other two at home, 5 weeks, 6 weeks and 9.5 weeks. I was monitored closely by a gyno for high risk during pregnancy. Everything was normal, good fetal development then bam I miscarried. One day I hope they find better testing methods and figure out what's going on and why.

—Guest miranda

My third pregnancy!

I agree with you fully! Most of the time they say it's just something that happens. Well I've been through two miscarriages in 5 months. I had just got off birth control and got pregnant right away. First miscarriage ended in less than 5 weeks and the second was 8 weeks! I am now pregnant again. I'm 6 weeks along and this one feels different! I went to the hospital when I started spotting and then bleeding and they said yeah you're having a miscarriage and said it was something that just happens. Well when I went to my gyno he decided to put me on some medication and now after two months I am pregnant with no complications as of yet! But further tests need to be run if anyone has two or more miscarriages in a row! Please pray that this one turns out okay. I still have a ways to go!

—Guest elizabeth

Roller Coaster

When I started having the tests I definitely wanted them to find something wrong and I got frustrated when the first doctor I saw didn't run all the tests I wanted him to run and then I miscarried again. The specialist I saw after that diagnosed me with lupus anticoagulant antibodies and my next pregnancy was successful.

—Guest Kay