Does Having a Miscarriage Cause Infertility?
You will be happy to hear that having a miscarriage does not normally, in itself, cause fertility problems. There are many women all over the world who have had successful pregnancies after having a miscarriage. However, on the other hand, a lot of women who do have a miscarriage are more likely to have another miscarriage in the future. Various research has suggested that about half of women who experience a miscarriage will have at least one more in their lives.
Surprisingly, the most common factors that contribute to miscarriages don’t relate to fertility at all. Things like temporary illnesses like rubella, chronic diseases, lifestyle choices, and chormosomal abnormalities are some of the many factors that increase a woman’s chance of miscarriage. In a lot of cases, you can greatly lower your risk of having a miscarriage, simply by addressing these issues. For example, certain lifestyle changes that might be made to reduce miscarriage risk include, drinking less caffiene, proper management of your chronic illness, quitting smoking, or getting an MMR can largely improve miscarriage avoidance.
In regards to fertility issues, there are many known contributors, and none of them include miscarriages. However, that is not to say that certain infertility issues do not result in miscarriages. The causes of infertility can vary greatly on a case by case basis. Around half the time, infertility stems from a problem with the male reproductive system, and the other half of the time the issue relates to an issue with the female reproductive system.
In men, the most common of infertility problems stem from having a low sperm count. Other issues with the man’s sperm can contribute to infertility, including, abnormally shaped sperm, and poor sperm motility (swimming ability). Additionally, some men may experience fertility issues because of an auto-immune deficiency which can cause certain antibodies to be produced that will target and kill off the man’s sperm. Other times, men may have an issue with the vas deferens (the tube that the sperm travel through to get from the testicles to the body).
Just like men, there are many different issues that can be the culprit of infertility in women. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID can result in infertility. Just like men, some women have been seen to develop specific antibodies that target and kill off their partner’s sperm. Some women do not ovulate regularly. Infertility could result from some failure in the pituitary gland or the ovaries. Endometriosis may inhibit fertility. Some research has shown that the long term use of contraceptives may be a factor in infertility. A blockage or damage of the fallopian tubes could lead to fertility problems. There are many different conditions that involve the vital reproductive organs, such as fibroids, congenital abnormalities, or an abnromal womb shape that can lead to infertility.
Factors that could contribute to men and women alike include, nutritional defeciencies, exposure to heavy metals, extreme stress, smoking, illcit drugs, Chlamydia, and specific prescription drug use.
