Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy before viability, and it is the most common complication of pregnancy. Studies show that about 25% of all women experience at least one miscarriage in their lives.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects 1% to 5% of reproductive-age couples. This can be emotionally challenging and confusing. There are many causes and contributing factors to consider in a pregnancy loss evaluation. Yet, despite a comprehensive evaluation, a definitive cause is found in fewer than half of the couples experiencing repeated pregnancy loss. The distress associated with unexplained recurrent miscarriages often leads patients to question their ability to successfully conceive and have a baby, and couples often find themselves drawn to unproven testing and treatments. However, studies show that with an evidence-based approach and supportive care, most couples have a very good chance of a successful pregnancy.

We are here to answer your questions and give you the best care that modern medicine can offer. It starts with optimizing your overall health before conceiving, with the goal of giving you the best chances for a successful, sustained pregnancy. Since our program started in 2009, we have helped hundreds of women go on to have healthy babies.

Trying to Conceive after Repeat Miscarriages

Stanford’s Ruth Lathi, MD, explains the factors that may cause repeat miscarriages, the timing for physical and emotional recovery, and shares resources to help support women through this difficult process.

Watch video >

Our Unique Approach

Causes of recurrent miscarriage can be multifactorial, such as medical, genetic, anatomic, hormonal, and immunologic abnormalities. This is why we put a multidisciplinary team behind your testing and treatment. Understanding the physical and psychological consequences of miscarriage is a central focus of our team.

Our specialists work together to identify causes of pregnancy loss and to create individualized, unique approaches to caring for each patient. The team could include specialists in perinatal genetics, maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk obstetrics), hematology, immunology, urology (to examine male causes), endocrinology, social work, adult psychology, and many more. These specialists collaborate to fully understand what could be contributing to the miscarriages and to find the best way to address it. If the miscarriages are still unexplained, women can enroll in clinical trials to get one step closer to finding out the cause and, hopefully, be able to conceive a healthy baby. This highly collaborative and holistic approach of our Recurrent Pregnancy Loss program team is unique, and we are the only program in country with this level of multidisciplinary integration.

Miscarriage can have a profound impact on your sense of well-being. Depression and anxiety are common in the months following the loss of a pregnancy and can last for a year or more. Be sure to talk to your provider about your concerns, anxiety, or depression.

For questions or to schedule consultations with our Fertility and Reproductive Health–Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program, call (650) 498-7911.

Research

The physicians at Stanford Children’s Health are actively engaged in research focusing on recurrent pregnancy loss, as well as related topics including reproductive genetics and the role of preimplantation genetic testing of embryos, pregnancy health after infertility and assisted reproduction, and endometrial factors involved in implantation and early pregnancy.

Learn more about our recurrent pregnancy loss research and how you can get involved >