Miscarriage and pregnancy loss

Reviewed by HHH Clinical Team · April 20265 sections · 3 min read

Top things to know

Miscarriage is common: about 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies ends this way, most in the first 12 weeks.

Most early losses happen because of random chromosome errors, not anything you did or did not do.

After three losses in a row, specialist tests can often find a treatable cause.

Your grief is real and valid; you can take time and seek support on your own terms.

Content note

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How common is miscarriage, really?

Miscarriage is far more common than most people realise. Approximately 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with the vast majority occurring in the first 12 weeks. For women who have been , this loss can be devastating, made worse by the silence that surrounds it.

In South Asian communities, miscarriage is often hidden entirely. The cultural expectation to not announce a pregnancy until later, combined with the stigma around reproductive loss, means many women grieve alone, without support from family or community.

1 in 4

Approximately 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with the vast majority occurring in the first 12 weeks.

Tommy's, miscarriage statistics and information

What causes miscarriage?

The most common cause of early miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality, a random error in cell division that prevents the embryo from developing normally. This is not caused by anything the mother did or didn't do.

Miscarriage is NOT caused by: • Stress or worry • Working too hard • Exercise • Eating the wrong foods • Having an argument • Not resting enough • Past behaviour or sins • Nazar (evil eye) or spiritual causes

If someone tells you, or implies, that your miscarriage was caused by your behaviour, your faith, or your karma, they are wrong. Miscarriage is a medical event with biological causes.

What counts as recurrent miscarriage and what happens next?

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses. This affects approximately 1% of couples . If you have experienced recurrent miscarriage, your doctor should refer you for specialist investigation.

Investigations may include blood clotting tests (antiphospholipid syndrome), hormonal tests, uterine structure assessment, and genetic testing for both partners. In many cases, a cause can be identified and treated.

What is the emotional impact of miscarriage and pregnancy loss?

Grief after miscarriage is real and valid, regardless of how early the loss occurred. You may feel sadness, anger, guilt, emptiness, jealousy of others' pregnancies, or numbness. All of these are normal responses.

In South Asian families, there may be pressure to "move on" quickly, to try again immediately, or to treat the loss as something that simply wasn't meant to be. While these responses come from a cultural framework of coping, they can feel dismissive of your pain.

You are allowed to grieve. You are allowed to take time. You are allowed to talk about it, or not talk about it, on your own terms.

Where can you find support after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss?

Support after pregnancy loss comes in two kinds, and you are entitled to both: clinical care for your body, and emotional support for everything else. Clinically, bleeding or pain in early pregnancy should always be assessed, and after repeated losses it is reasonable to ask for investigation rather than simply being told to try again. Emotionally, miscarriage is a real loss, not a minor setback, and grief that lasts a while is normal. You do not have to carry it silently, and reaching for support is not weakness. What is available to you depends on where you live.

How did this land with you?

If this helped, someone you know might need it too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is miscarriage?

Approximately 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies ends in miscarriage, with the vast majority occurring in the first 12 weeks. It is far more common than most people realise, which matters because so many families carry it in silence.

When do most miscarriages happen?

The vast majority happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. That is part of why many families wait until after the first scan to share news, and why early losses are so often grieved privately.