Miscarriage

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20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage (the loss of the foetus before 24 weeks). But even though it's quite common, it can still be very upsetting.

Causes

It isn't fully understood what triggers a miscarriage, but it's thought the more common causes are natural - an abnormality with the baby's development - rather than the result of having sex, hang gliding or not resting enough. It doesn't mean you won't get pregnant again. It doesn't mean it was your fault.

It is known that factors such as smoking greatly increases the chance of miscarriage. The risks rise slightly as the woman gets older (particularly over the age of 35).

Other possible causes include infection and diseases (such as diabetes) hormonal imbalance and immune responses.

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