No one wants to think about having a miscarriage. But, the truth is, miscarriages happen. But, just how often do they happen? What are your chances for having a miscarriage? Those are the questions we are going to tackle today. There are so many questions and so much uncertainty regarding miscarriage and pregnancy loss, hopefully we will be able to clear some of them up. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
First of all, it is very important to know that 20% of all pregnancies do end in miscarriage. That is a huge number, and a very sad fact. Of course, with something such as miscarriage, there are no “rules,” no “facts” and no guidelines to go by. These numbers are just estimates and there are no guarantees.
However, it is said that the risk of miscarriage is greatest in the first and second weeks of pregnancy, when you are not likely to even know that you are pregnant. This is called an early or chemical miscarriage, and can be the reason for the ‘false positive‘ you are seeing on your pregnancy test.
The chances of miscarriage continue to drop after those first initial weeks, though. After the first two weeks, the chances of miscarriage drop to ten percent. During weeks six through twelve of your pregnancy, the chance of miscarriage drops to only five percent. During the second trimester of your pregnancy, the chance of miscarriage drops once again to only three percent. Of course, none of these numbers are set in stone, just a basic rough estimate for you to go by.
That is why so many women wait until 12-13 weeks when they enter the second trimester to share their good news with the world, as their chances of miscarriage or pregnancy loss drop so precipitously at this time. Once this far along, most couples feel pretty certain in their pregnancy at this time.
There are so many other factors that can go into a woman having a miscarriage, from environmental factors to lifestyle choices. Having a history of ectopic pregnancies or other problems can also really play a role. Having a medical condition can also increase the chances of miscarriage. If you have had prior miscarriages in the past, your chances of miscarriage can also increase.
Some experts think that after one miscarriage, the chance of a recurrent miscarriage increases by up to 15%. Similarly, after your second miscarriage, the chance of a third is around 30-40%, and after a fourth miscarriage the chance of another is around 50% or sometimes even higher.
While we know that these statistics may sound alarming, keep in mind that there really isn’t a lot of research in this area yet. The amount of women that seek medical help after miscarriage is really unknown. If you are worried about miscarriage and your chances, you need to speak with your doctor. They can help you navigate through the confusion and help determine what the chances are for your particular situation.
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