OK here are the stats translated into numbers . . I found it better to look at it like this than just as % . . .
Lets say 10,000 women all get pregnant on the same day . . .
- 75% (7500) of those women will have full term pregnancy first time round - there are different stats at this point about stillbirth and trisomy defects but we'll use the term 'full term pregnancy'
- 25% of those women will MC- this will be their first pregnancy and first MC, so 2500 women MC x 1. (Many experts think this number could actually be 50%, but the mother didn't know she was pregnant or simply didn't report it)
- those 2500 women all get pregnant again, and this time 80% will have full term pregnancy, that's 2000, but 20% will MC for the second time, that's 500 women x 2 MC. Remember that's 500 from the original 10,000 that have x 2 MC's.
- those 500 women all get pregnant again, and 495 will have full term pregnancy, but 1%, 5 women, will have MC number 3. That 5 women of 10,000 that become officially recurrent miscarriers.
Because of the final stat on point 4, that's why the NHS don't usually do any fertility tests until you've had 3 MCs, as chances really are in your favour of successful pregnancy. It feels harsh but it does make sense.
Secondly of the 5 women that had 3 ( or more MC's) 50% roughly will have a potential fertility diagnosis that may or may not be treatable (including age/partner related infertility), and 50% have 'unexplained' MC, can be considered unlucky, could have something that is yet unknown/untestable. At this point you're likely move into IVF/assisted fertility routes.
NK Cells was the latest breakthrough in the 50% unexplained MC. as these women also tended to have successful pregnancies followed by recurrent miscarriage or vice versa. The process of the NK Cells does mean without treatment these women were getting lucky as the NK cells clear themselves out, then build up again.
Even the condition I have has only become testable in a standard lab level in the last 10 years.
Also, my personal view, is that I would refrain from using the term Chemical Pregnancy, as some GP's do seem to use this as a means to tell you to go home and try again. The fact is, nobody can know whether it was a 'chemical' unless the remains were tested. As far as anyone is concerned, if you had a positive home test, followed by a bleed, then a negative test, then you had an MC. Get it on your medical record each time, and if you are unlucky enough to get to 3, refer, refer, refer. Get all the tests done.
@RubyRoot my RMC consultant on my first visit suggested if there was an issue it would most likely be my age ( 39 at the time of mc x 3) and thus poor quality eggs. So even getting pregnant was one thing but the embryo would then fail due to poor quality egg in the first place. He had suggested we may in the future need to consider donor eggs. (sense of humour was needed at this point, so DH joked he'd just go down the pub on friday and find younger woman)
But consultant was totally wrong, we discovered I have a blood condition that causes MC and thus, with treatment I'm now 37w6d and booked in to give birth in 12 days . . . .
Recurrent MC will happen to some of us, but even now there are many on this thread who had 1 or 2 MC's and are now so far, having healthy pregnancies and some of us who had 3 also. Everyone on here suffered loss and is pregnant again.. Keep positive and stay strong within yourself, we can all have those rainbow babies we just have different journey's to get there xx