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A groundbreaking test has been developed by UK researchers aimed at diagnosing abnormalities in the uterine lining, which may assist women experiencing repeated unexplained miscarriages. The findings suggest new avenues for treatment concerning recurrent pregnancy loss.
Researchers noted that the link between pregnancy loss and uterine lining conditions had been previously underestimated, with many studies focusing solely on embryo quality. It is estimated that approximately one in six pregnancies results in miscarriage, predominantly occurring within the first 12 weeks, and with each loss, the likelihood of further miscarriages increases.
The charity Tommy’s, which supports pregnancy research, has stated that these findings could enhance understanding and treatment options for those facing the emotional and psychological toll of repeated miscarriages.
Dr. Joanne Muter, the lead author, emphasized that the study aimed to identify preventable causes of miscarriage, highlighting that the uterine environment may significantly influence pregnancy outcomes even before conception. This research challenges the prevalent notion of ‘bad luck’ often assigned to such losses.
Conducted by the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, the study, funded by Tommy’s, involved an analysis of over 1,500 biopsies from more than 1,300 women. The results indicated that a biological process known as the ‘decidual reaction’—which prepares the uterus for pregnancy—often fails to function correctly in women with a miscarriage history, leading to an unstable environment for embryo implantation.
As a result, the researchers have developed a test to evaluate the uterine lining’s responsiveness, which is currently being piloted with over 1,000 patients at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research.
Professor Jan Brosens, a senior author of the study, pointed out that while chromosomal abnormalities in embryos contribute to higher miscarriage rates in women over 35, the study highlights that each miscarriage elevates the risk of future implantations in an abnormal uterine lining, irrespective of age. The frequency of these events, either abnormal embryos or an abnormal uterine reaction, significantly impacts a woman’s individual risk of miscarriage.
Holly Milikouris, who experienced five miscarriages, described the new test as transformative. After discovering that her uterine lining had abnormal preparations for pregnancy and undergoing treatment, she successfully carried two healthy pregnancies. “The treatments that typically help women who have experienced miscarriages hadn’t worked for us, and we felt like we were rolling a dice each time,” she said. “Participating in this trial was life-changing; we will never be able to thank Professor Brosens enough.”
