Recurrent Miscarriage in Dubai: Causes, Testing & Treatment | Dubai Fertility Clinics

Understanding Recurrent Miscarriage

Recurrent miscarriage (also called recurrent pregnancy loss or RPL) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. It affects 1-2% of couples trying to conceive. In Dubai, specialized fertility clinics offer comprehensive investigation and treatment.

Common Causes

Chromosomal (50-60% of miscarriages):

Random chromosomal errors in the embryo (most common cause)

Parental chromosome translocations (structural rearrangements)

More common with advancing maternal age

Uterine Issues (10-15%):

Uterine septum (wall dividing the uterus)

Fibroids (especially submucosal)

Polyps

Asherman syndrome (scarring)

Cervical insufficiency

Hormonal (5-10%):

Thyroid disorders (hypo or hyper)

Uncontrolled diabetes

PCOS-related hormonal imbalance

Low progesterone (luteal phase defect)

Blood Clotting Disorders (5-15%):

Antiphospholipid syndrome (most important treatable cause)

Factor V Leiden

Prothrombin gene mutation

Other thrombophilias

Immunological (Emerging research):

Natural killer cell dysfunction

Autoimmune conditions

Immune tolerance issues

Unexplained (25-50%):

Despite thorough investigation, no cause is found in a significant number of cases. The good news: even without a diagnosis, the prognosis is often favorable with supportive care.

Essential Tests for Recurrent Miscarriage

|--------------|---------------|

Chromosomal	Karyotype (both partners), products of conception testing
Hormonal	Thyroid panel, prolactin, HbA1c, Day 21 progesterone
Clotting	Antiphospholipid antibodies (×2), lupus anticoagulant, thrombophilia screen
Immunological	NK cells, autoimmune panel
Metabolic	Vitamin D, homocysteine, insulin resistance

Treatment Options

For chromosomal causes:

IVF with PGT-A (select chromosomally normal embryos)

PGT-SR for known translocations

Genetic counseling

For uterine issues:

Hysteroscopic surgery (septum resection, fibroid/polyp removal)

Cervical cerclage for cervical insufficiency

For antiphospholipid syndrome:

Low-dose aspirin + heparin injections during pregnancy

Monitoring by maternal-fetal medicine specialist

This treatment has strong evidence and significantly improves outcomes

For hormonal issues:

Thyroid optimization (TSH target <2.5 for fertility)

Progesterone supplementation

Metformin for insulin resistance/PCOS

For unexplained RPL:

Supportive early pregnancy care (reduces anxiety, may improve outcomes)

Progesterone supplementation (emerging evidence of benefit)

Regular early ultrasounds

Some clinics offer empirical treatments (intralipids, steroids) — discuss evidence with your doctor

The Emotional Impact

Recurrent miscarriage is one of the most emotionally devastating fertility challenges. It's important to:

Seek emotional support — counseling, support groups, or therapy

Give yourself time between losses and the next attempt

Communicate with your partner — grief affects people differently

Know that it's not your fault — miscarriage is almost never caused by something you did or didn't do

Stay hopeful — even after 3 losses with no identified cause, the chance of a successful next pregnancy is 60-75%

When to Seek Help in Dubai

Don't wait for three losses — the old "rule of three" is outdated. After two consecutive miscarriages, seek evaluation from a reproductive specialist. Many Dubai clinics offer comprehensive RPL investigation programs.