Role of Infections, environmental factors psychological factors in recurrent pregnancy loss

Infections and recurrent miscarriage

Infection as a cause of recurrent miscarriage is not considered. Any severe infection that give rise to bacteremia or viremia can result in sporadic miscarriage. However, for an infective agent to be blamed for the cause of repeated pregnancy loss, it must persist in the genital tract and avoid detection or cause negligible symptoms to bother the woman. Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, and Listeria infections do not have these criteria. Although bacterial vaginosis in the first trimester has been reported as a risk factor for second-trimester abortion and preterm labor, evidence of an association with first-trimester abortion is equivocal.


Environmental Factors and recurrent miscarriage

Most studies have the same opinion that maternal cigarette smoking is related with a dose dependent increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage. Interestingly, however, a recent study challenged these studies. However, smoking in any case is no good.

Heavy alcohol consumption is noxious to the embryo and the fetus. Even reasonable consumption of five or more units (1 unit of alcohol is equal to approximately 8g of absolute alcohol, or one small glass of wine) per week may amplify the risk of sporadic miscarriage.

Caffeine use is related with a dose-dependent enhanced risk of miscarriage. The risk becomes noteworthy when caffeine intake exceeds 300 mg (3 cups of coffee) daily.

Working with or using video display terminals does not increase the risk of miscarriage.

Substantiation on the effect of anesthetic gases among operation theater workers is conflicting. Earlier studies reported an increase in the risk of spontaneous miscarriage, but more recent studies have suggested that contact to waste anesthetic gases did not enhance the risk of miscarriage among operation theater workers.

Psychological Factors

Though 33% of the women having recurrent miscarriage remain depressed but there are no substantial proof to blame depression as a cause of recurrent miscarriage. Some studies shown severe depression may result in miscarriages , but more prospective studies are required to substantiate this fact.