Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Recurrent abortion refers to the loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies before the 20th week of gestation. While an estimated 10-25% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage affects about 1-2% of women.12

The most common cause, accounting for over 60% of miscarriages, is a chromosomal abnormality in the fetus. Other contributing factors can include uterine abnormalities, endocrine disorders like low progesterone levels, infectious diseases, and advanced maternal age (over 35). Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and certain drug use during pregnancy also increase the risk.21

Symptoms of a threatened miscarriage include vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. While some threatened abortions can be prevented with rest and hormonal therapy, many miscarriages are inevitable due to underlying fetal abnormalities.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. miscarriage
  2. pregnancy - Abortion

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.