Early Pregnancy Loss
The loss of a clinically confirmed pregnancy before 13 weeks of gestation. Early pregnancy loss is the most common complication of pregnancy, occurring in approximately 10 to 20% of confirmed pregnancies. The majority result from chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. But recurrent loss, defined as two or more losses, warrants systematic evaluation for treatable maternal factors.
This distinction is central to RRM's approach. A single loss is statistically common and often attributable to sporadic chromosomal error. Two or more losses define Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL), a separate clinical entity with a different differential diagnosis and a different evaluation protocol. Conflating a single loss with recurrent loss understates the clinical significance of the pattern and delays workup.
Treatable causes of early pregnancy loss include progesterone deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, uterine abnormalities (septum, submucous fibroids, isthmocele), antiphospholipid syndrome, inherited thrombophilias, and chronic endometritis. RRM protocols address these systematically rather than attributing losses to chance and advising the couple to try again without investigation.
Early pregnancy loss is distinguished from biochemical pregnancy (positive hCG with no ultrasound confirmation) and from stillbirth (fetal loss at or after 20 weeks). Each carries its own evaluation framework. RRM does not collapse these into a single category.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.