Miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss

One in five couples experience miscarriage in New Zealand and sometimes couples can have more than one pregnancy loss. This can have devastating personal effects. 

 A woman can experience a loss of confidence and trust in her body. It becomes vital to understand the reasons why a woman miscarries. 
Where some miscarriages are natures way of ending a non-viable pregnancy for others a definite causal factor is involved. These factors are not always well understood by medical science.  

Possible reasons for miscarriage

  • Chromosomal abnormalities
  • Egg implantation problems e.g. ectopic pregnancy
  • Placental insufficiency or dysfunction
  • Stress
  • Serious morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum)
  • Injury
  • Hormonal problems e.g. luteal phase defects
  • Coeliacs or gluten intolerance
  • Sperm irregularities (including DNA fragmentation)
  • Immune and autoimmune disorders
  • Uterine dysfunction e.g. fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, ashermanns syndrome, septated uteruses.
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Abnormal blood flow to the uterus including blood clotting disorders
  • Rhesus negative blood type
  • Cervical incompetency
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Any severe infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, bacterial vaginosis
  • Multiple D and C’s
  • Medication
  • Environmental and lifestyle factors e.g. alcohol, smoking, caffeine, recreational drugs

Please note that some sources say that up to 50% of miscarriages are caused by male factors.

Our approach

We investigate both prospective parents thoroughly by using our naturopathic diagnostic tools and medical tests in order to best understand the probable causes. We suggest our preconception care program as part of our treatment plans for couples who have experienced pregnancy loss. 
We address lifestyle and dietary factors and use herbal medicine and nutritional supplementation in our individualised treatment plans for couples.

 See blog for more on this topic