What causes recurrent miscarriage?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Recurrent miscarriage is three or more early losses, affecting about 1 in 100 couples, and over half of investigations find no cause. When causes do surface, the list is specific. Chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo cause most individual miscarriages; a balanced translocation in either parent can make them repeat. Antiphospholipid syndrome, an immune clotting disorder, is the most important treatable cause and responds to blood thinners in pregnancy. Uterine factors like a septum, fibroids, or scarring can block implantation. Thyroid disease and poorly controlled diabetes play roles. Age is a major driver, with risk rising steeply after 35 as chromosomal errors in eggs increase. Testing usually begins after three losses and covers clotting antibodies, thyroid and hormones, parental chromosomes, and uterine imaging. The prognosis is better than the experience feels: most couples with recurrent loss eventually have a baby, and finding a treatable cause like APS shifts the odds further in your favor.
What to do
- Ask for the workup: after three losses (or two with age or other factors), testing is warranted.
- Test for APS: it is the most important treatable cause.
- Check chromosomes: both partners, since a balanced translocation can run silently.
- Scan the uterus: septum, fibroids, and scarring are fixable findings.
- Hold the hope honestly: no cause found is common, and most couples still succeed later.
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