Miscarriage rate
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 20 weeks. (After 20 weeks, pregnancy loss is known as a stillbirth.) Overall, miscarriage affects up to 1 in 4 women who become pregnant at some point in their lifetime.1
The risk of miscarriage increases as a woman ages:1
Other factors also associated with an increased risk of miscarriage include:
- A personal or family history of miscarriage.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Smoking.
- Chemical exposure.
- Caffeine use.
- Certain gynecological problems.
- The presence of disease or infection.
1Schieve LA, et al. (2003). Spontaneous abortion among pregnancies conceived using assisted reproductive technology in the United States. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 101(5, Part 1): 959–967.
Credits
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Last Updated | April 7, 2006 |