Fertility
If you’re ready to have a child, but facing fertility challenges, reproductive endocrinologists can help. Find fertility solutions and services at locations throughout the Philadelphia area.
Repetitive Miscarriage
What is a repetitive miscarriage?
When you become pregnant, you're naturally excited. You start to dream about who this new person growing inside of you will become. When you have a miscarriage, it can be devastating. Suddenly everything you planned for is gone.
Suffering several miscarriages in a row is called repetitive miscarriage. This can be the result of a genetic, hormonal or other problem. Main Line Health offers diagnosis and help for women experiencing repetitive miscarriage.
Possible problems that cause repetitive miscarriage
If you've had several miscarriages, our experts will get to the bottom of whatever is causing your pregnancies to end. Common causes of repetitive miscarriage include:
- Coagulation disorders (blood clotting disorders)
- Genetic abnormalities
- Hormone disorders, including low progesterone
- Immunologic problems (problems with your immune system)
- Infection, such as vaginal bacterial imbalance
- Structural problems of the uterus
Diagnosis and testing for repetitive miscarriages
Diagnostic tests and treatments can bring new insight into why you're experiencing repetitive miscarriage and give you hope for a successful pregnancy. Main Line Health offers:
- Blood testing – Immunologic problems, such as your body's immune system failing to protect a pregnancy or even attacking the pregnancy, may be discovered through a simple blood test. Blood testing can also identify coagulation problems, such as the tendency to clot too easily, which may result in loss of blood flow to the pregnancy. Hormone disorders, such as low progesterone, as well as thyroid, prolactin and insulin problems can also be identified during blood testing.
- Chromosome testing – After a miscarriage, a chromosomal analysis of the tissue can provide great insight into genetic problems that may have ended the pregnancy. Knowing about these genetic risks can help you make decisions about future pregnancies, including whether or not to use egg or sperm donation.
- Hysteroscopy – Problems with your uterus, such as fibroids, polyps, endometriosis or a congenital (since birth) problem with the shape of your uterus may affect your ability to carry a pregnancy to term. During hysteroscopy, a thin, lighted tube is inserted into your vagina and through the opening of your cervix in order to view the inside of the uterus, the lining of your cervix and the openings of the fallopian tubes. If needed, your doctor can perform minimally invasive surgical procedures during hysteroscopy that may help you avoid miscarriage in the future.
If you've had multiple miscarriages, you don't have to give up on pregnancy. Main Line Health can help with infertility problems, including repetitive miscarriage, with diagnosis and treatment options to help you become a parent.
Women's Health
Discover how Main Line Health provides comprehensive and compassionate care for women in all stages of life.
Maternity (Obstetrics)
Our board-certified gynecologists are dedicated to serving you at every stage of your life, from adolescence to menopause and beyond. Whether you need treatment for common gynecological issues or advanced therapies and surgical expertise, we're here to provide comprehensive care and support.
Genetics and Risk Assessment
Genetic evaluation is becoming an important part of personalized care, as many health conditions have a genetic basis and genetic test results can help to guide medical decisions. Our genetic counselors provide consultations related to cancer genetics, cardiovascular genetics and prenatal genetics.