5 Common Causes of Miscarriages

Having a miscarriage is something that aspiring parents don't want to experience. If ever if happens, knowing why it did might help.

Miscarriage, Fox News reports, is a common situation. A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that 55 percent of men and women thought that only 5 percent of pregnancies result in a miscarriage, while 15 percent report that they actually had one.

According to Parents.com, a miscarriage can be a very damaging event. It may come with long-lasting emotional repercussions, which may include depression, fear, and guilt. However, one major difficulty related to the condition is the lack of knowledge surrounding it.

"It's still a mystery to us," said Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Here are some reasons that science has discovered to be causing miscarriages:

Chromosomal Problems

According to the March of Dimes, when the sperm or egg contains too many or too few chromosomes, miscarriage may happen.

“Sometimes the two sets of chromosomes from the egg and the sperm don't line up right at the moment of conception,” said Dr. Schaffir. “It doesn't mean that anything's wrong with the mother or father -- or that it will necessarily happen the next time.”

Chronic Medical Conditions

According to Parents.com, untreated illnesses, like those that restrict blood flow to the uterus, may increase the likelihood of a pregnant woman having a miscarriage. Such illnesses include diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus, heart disease, and others like uterine infections.

Hormonal Imbalance

Another possible cause is the inadequate production of progesterone, a hormone that helps the uterine lining in supporting and holding a fetus.

"Because this is not very common, we usually wouldn't test for it unless a woman's had multiple miscarriages," said Dr. Schaffir.

Excess Caffeine Intake

A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that increased caffeine intake is associated with a higher risk for miscarriage.

Although the relationship isn't fully known as of now, Tracy Flanagan, MD, director of Women's Health, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, said that this is one of those factors that pregnant women have control about, and should take extra precaution.

Alcohol, Cigarette & Drugs

Habitual drinkers and smokers, as well as drug users: pregnancy should be a reason to stop taking it altogether, even for the baby's sake, as "exposing a fetus to large amounts of these chemicals on a regular basis ... can cause miscarriage, because they have a poisonous effect on all those developing cells," said Dr. Schaffir.