A H Ansari1, B Kirkpatrick. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively review causes of recurrent pregnancy loss and the currently applied methodologies for their diagnosis and management. STUDY DESIGN: A review article addressing pertinent issues on the subject of recurrent pregnancy loss, which, by definition, is three consecutive pregnancy losses prior to the 20th week of gestation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Diagnostic workup and treatment of recurrent abortion often poses a special challenge as numerous conclusive and nonconclusive causes have been described with varied and often controversial approaches for their management. While a definitive cause may not be discovered in a significant number of cases, among those with an identifiable cause, anatomic disorders are by far the most conclusively diagnosable and effectively treatable conditions, making their exclusion or inclusion an essential part of the evaluation. That up to 60% of these cases may achieve successful pregnancy without any intervention should receive serious consideration when analyzing results of studies that claim therapeutic benefits from treatment modalities.
OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively review causes of recurrent pregnancy loss and the currently applied methodologies for their diagnosis and management. STUDY DESIGN: A review article addressing pertinent issues on the subject of recurrent pregnancy loss, which, by definition, is three consecutive pregnancy losses prior to the 20th week of gestation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Diagnostic workup and treatment of recurrent abortion often poses a special challenge as numerous conclusive and nonconclusive causes have been described with varied and often controversial approaches for their management. While a definitive cause may not be discovered in a significant number of cases, among those with an identifiable cause, anatomic disorders are by far the most conclusively diagnosable and effectively treatable conditions, making their exclusion or inclusion an essential part of the evaluation. That up to 60% of these cases may achieve successful pregnancy without any intervention should receive serious consideration when analyzing results of studies that claim therapeutic benefits from treatment modalities.