Could issues with the womb lining be the hidden cause of recurring miscarriage?

Miscarriage not just affects women physically, but also takes an emotional toll on them. Then there are cases of recurrent miscarriages, questioning the possible explanation behind the condition. 

A study by researchers from the UK seems to have decoded the reason behind recurrent miscarriages. Experts believe an abnormal process in the womb lining can explain the loss of pregnancy. 

Each miscarriage increases the risk of losing another pregnancy. While extensive studies on embryo quality have been conducted, researchers say studies on the endometrium (the womb lining) in reproductive medicine was not explored much.

“This is about identifying preventable miscarriages. Many women are told they’ve just had ‘bad luck’, but our findings show that the womb itself may be setting the stage for pregnancy loss, even before conception takes place," said lead author Dr Joanne Muter in the press release.

For the study, 1,500 biopsies from more than 1,300 women were analysed. It was observed that an essential biological process called the ‘decidual reaction’, which prepares the womb lining for pregnancy each month, often doesn’t progress properly in women with a history of miscarriage. 

What is the role of the womb lining or endometrium?

Once fertilised, the endometrium receives the embryo and supports the development of the placenta throughout pregnancy. 

The decidual reaction transforms the womb lining into a supportive tissue for the embryo to implant. When there is an abnormality, it creates an unstable environment that, while still allowing embryos to implant, increases the risk of bleeding and early pregnancy loss.

Researchers say this abnormal response recurs across menstrual cycles for some women at a rate far greater than chance would predict. This suggests a consistent, measurable, and potentially preventable cause of miscarriage risk.

Understanding this cause, the team developed a test to measure the molecular signals of a healthy or dysfunctional decidual reaction.

The breakthrough can help improve pregnancy health, personalised treatment, and provide emotional relief for patients who have been searching for answers behind the miscarriages. 

Health