An accurate recurrent pregnancy loss diagnosis is the first step to welcome a baby
When you experience multiple miscarriages, you’re left wondering why. At Fertility Specialists of Texas, our team strives to answer this question by reaching a recurrent pregnancy loss diagnosis. Our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility specialists use this information and their 100+ years of combined experience to develop a customized treatment plan. The goal is to help you overcome the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss and become a parent.
Exploring the multiple causes of recurrent pregnancy loss
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is complex. There isn’t just one issue that causes it. In fact, there are many reasons why a woman might have multiple miscarriages. Here are some of the most-common causes of recurrent pregnancy loss.
- Genetic abnormalities in the embryo, including too many or too few chromosomes
- Anatomic issues, like fibroids or uterine abnormalities
- Untreated medical conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disease and immune issues
- Smoking, recreational drug use, being overweight and drinking alcohol
Doctors cannot find a clear cause of RPL in approximately half of all cases. However, even in cases of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss, many women can still welcome a baby.
Rely on our team to receive a recurrent pregnancy loss diagnosis
Each patient is unique; our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility specialists will perform comprehensive testing to determine the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss in your case. Typically, diagnostic testing will involve one or more of the following tests.
- A transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the uterus and look for fibroids
- A saline sonogram (SIS) to evaluate the uterine cavity
- Bloodwork to assess your hormone levels and ovarian reserve (egg supply)
- A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to look for uterine abnormalities
- Evaluation of your medical history and past fertility diagnoses and treatments
- Products of conception testing to look for genetic abnormalities in miscarriage tissue
- Genetic testing for you and your partner to identify any issues
This information allows your doctor to make an accurate recurrent pregnancy loss diagnosis. Having a diagnosis is important because it allows our team to develop a customized treatment plan that will address the cause of multiple miscarriages.
For example, if fibroids or uterine abnormalities are causing the miscarriages, minimally invasive surgery is often the best treatment. As a result, moving forward with a fertility treatment like in vitro fertilization (IVF) might not be necessary or effective until after surgery. In contrast, IVF with genetic testing can be an excellent treatment for miscarriages due to genetic abnormalities in the embryo.
Contact us to schedule an appointment and take the first step on the path to parenthood by getting a recurrent pregnancy loss diagnosis. We look forward to assisting you on your fertility journey.