Pregnancy & parentingWomen's health

10 things to know about miscarriages

Here’s the truth about what does and doesn’t cause pregnancy loss, and what happens next.

Jan, 2026
LearnObstetrics & gynecologyMiscarriage10 things to know about miscarriages
Slide 1
Miscarriage rates are high
They’re most often caused by a chromosomal issue
Certain health conditions or medications may increase your risk
Age may contribute to risk
It’s best to give up smoking and alcohol
It's important to maintain a healthy weight...
High blood pressure may play a role
You may need a procedure to help clear the uterus
It can help to take time to process the experience
It’s okay to reach out for help

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Slide 1

Miscarriage is not often talked about or discussed openly. But it is much more common than you may realize. For many people, it can be a difficult experience, both physically and emotionally. Althea O’Shaughnessy, MD, a fertility specialist with Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado, explains common causes of miscarriage, and what you can do to help support a healthy pregnancy.

Written byOlivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed byJoanne Perron, MD.May, 2024
Sources: Planned Parenthood. How do I know if I'm having a miscarriage? Accessed April 20 + 18
  1. Planned Parenthood. How do I know if I'm having a miscarriage? Accessed April 20, 2023.
  2. Maconochie N, Doyle P, Prior S, et al. Risk factors for first trimester miscarriage--results from a UK-population-based case-control study. BJOG. 2007 Feb;114(2):170-86.
  3. Dugas C, Slane VH. Miscarriage. 2022 Jun 27. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–.
  4. Boutari C, Pappas PD, Mintziori G, et al. The effect of underweight on female and male reproduction. Metabolism. 2020 Jun;107:154229.
  5. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Early Pregnancy Loss: Frequently Asked Questions. Page last updated January 2022.
  6. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Repeated Miscarriages: Frequently Asked Questions. Page last reviewed November 2020.
  7. Mølgaard-Nielsen D, Svanström H, Melbye M, Hviid A, Pasternak B. Association Between Use of Oral Fluconazole During Pregnancy and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion and Stillbirth. JAMA. 2016;315(1):58-67.
  8. Hahn KA, Hatch EE, Rothman KJ, Mikkelsen EM, Brogly SB, Sørensen HT, Riis AH, Wise LA. History of oral contraceptive use and risk of spontaneous abortion. Ann Epidemiol. 2015 Dec;25(12):936-41.e1.
  9. Muanda FT, Sheehy O, Bérard A. Use of antibiotics during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous abortion. CMAJ. 2017;189(17):E625-E633.
  10. Pineles BL, Park E, Samet JM. Systematic review and meta-analysis of miscarriage and maternal exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol. 2014;179(7):807-823. doi:10.1093/aje/kwt334
  11. Sundermann AC, Velez Edwards DR, Slaughter JC, et al. Week-by-week alcohol consumption in early pregnancy and spontaneous abortion risk: a prospective cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021;224(1):97.e1-97.e16.
  12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Substance Use in Women Research Report: Substance Use While Pregnant and Breastfeeding. April 2020.
  13. Cavalcante MB, Sarno M, Peixoto AB, Araujo Júnior E, Barini R. Obesity and recurrent miscarriage: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019;45(1):30-38.
  14. Poston L, Caleyachetty R, Cnattingius S, et al. Preconceptional and maternal obesity: epidemiology and health consequences. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016;4(12):1025-1036.
  15. Del Carmen Nogales M, Cruz M, de Frutos S, et al. Association between clinical and IVF laboratory parameters and miscarriage after single euploid embryo transfers. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2021;19(1):186. Published 2021 Dec 14.
  16. Nobles CJ, Mendola P, Mumford SL, et al. Preconception Blood Pressure Levels and Reproductive Outcomes in a Prospective Cohort of Women Attempting Pregnancy. Hypertension. 2018;71(5):904-910.
  17. Malasevskaia I, Sultana S, Hassan A, Hafez AA, Onal F, Ilgun H, Heindl SE. A 21st Century Epidemy-Obesity: And Its Impact on Pregnancy Loss. Cureus. 2021 Jan 1;13(1):e12417.
  18. Cleveland Clinic. Advanced Maternal Age. Last reviewed February 28, 2022.
  19. Yale Medicine. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Page accessed July 15, 2022.

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