Miscarriage Statistics in the UK in 2024: Risk Factors, Reasons, and Support

Miscarriage is the most common type of pregnancy loss. In the UK, it is defined as the death of a baby (embryo or foetus) in the uterus within the first 23 weeks and six days of pregnancy. Early miscarriages happen within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and late miscarriages occur after 13 weeks and before 24 weeks of pregnancy. Late miscarriages are also known as second-trimester or mid-trimester losses. Any loss of pregnancy from 24 weeks onward is considered a stillbirth.

Various factors can increase the risk of a miscarriage. However, some are more commonly associated with early miscarriage, while others are linked to increased chances of having a late miscarriage.

Early miscarriage risk factors

Age is one of the factors that increase the chances of having an early miscarriage. Other factors include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Drug use
• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Alcohol consumption

Late miscarriage risk factors

Common factors that increase the chances of having a late miscarriage include:

• Untreated or uncontrolled long-term health conditions such as diabetes, lupus, and over- or under-active thyroid gland.
• Infections, such as rubella (German measles), bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhoea, and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
• Food poisoning such as listeriosis, salmonella, or toxoplasmosis.
• Medicines such as misoprostol, retinoids, methotrexate, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
• Problems or abnormalities in the womb or womb structure, such as fibroids or a weakened cervix.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

While recent data on miscarriages by pregnancy week is not available, we did find figures that offer a broad idea of them. Most miscarriages are early miscarriages, and it’s estimated that between 10 and 20 of every 100 pregnancies (10-20%) end in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Three to four of every 100 pregnancies (3-4%) are late miscarriages, ending between 13 and 23 weeks and six days of pregnancy.

There are several reasons why some pregnancies end in miscarriage. An expectant mother may be affected by one or more of what are regarded as main causes, as well as by one or more of the factors we mentioned above. The main causes of miscarriage include:

• Anatomical, such as a weak cervix, an irregularly shaped uterus, or large fibroid growths in the uterus.
• Blood-clotting problems, such as blood clotting more than it should.
• Genetic causes, such as the baby not developing properly from the beginning of pregnancy.
• Hormonal, such as in some women who have irregular periods.
• Infection, such as very high fevers or infections such as Parvovirus or rubella.

43.8% of women say pain is the most common symptom

While pain was named as the most common symptom respondents experienced during their miscarriage, it was not the only symptom. Let’s take a closer look.

Our data found that 48.3% of women experienced pain as a symptom of miscarriage. Of the women we surveyed, 28% experienced bleeding, while 23.7% had blood clots. It’s possible that some of these women only had one symptom, while others had at least two.

According to an older study (2010), two-thirds of women whose pregnancies ended in miscarriage reported bleeding during pregnancy. Excluding those whose bleeding ended within four days of miscarriage, 25% of women reported having bled at least once during the first trimester. This figure is similar to the 27% of women who reported bleeding during pregnancy but did not miscarry.

45.6% of respondents miscarried due to unknown causes

Almost half of the women we surveyed did not know the cause of their miscarriage. Find out what the other respondents said about the reason they were given for theirs.

According to our survey, 45.6% of respondents’ miscarriages were due to unknown causes. 45.2% said they were told that hormonal imbalances caused their miscarriages, while 9.2% of respondents said that infections were cited as the reason why they miscarried.

There’s a reason why the cause of so many women’s miscarriages went undiagnosed. In the UK, women are not usually tested until they have had three miscarriages (recurrent miscarriage) or one second trimester loss (late miscarriage).

12,000 women have ectopic pregnancies each year

According to findings published in 2020 by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), an estimated 12,000 women in the UK experience an ectopic pregnancy per year. Older data (2016) from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists reveals that one in 90 (slightly more than 1%) pregnancies in the UK are ectopic.

While not the same as a miscarriage, finding out that the pregnancy is ectopic can be no less devastating for a mother- or parents-to-be. An ectopic pregnancy develops when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. This usually happens in the fallopian tubes (tubal pregnancy), but there have been rare cases of ectopic pregnancies developing:

• In an ovary (ovarian)
• Near a fallopian tube’s entrance to the uterus (interstitial)
• Near the cervix (cervical)
• In the abdominal cavity (abdominal)

Most women hospitalised for early miscarriage spent one day in hospital

There’s very little current data available on miscarriage recovery rates. However, an Irish study published in 2016 found that 86.4% of women hospitalised for early miscarriage spent one day in hospital, while 10% stayed for two days. Only 3.6% of women spent more than two days in hospital.

It’s important to remember that everyone is different when it comes to physical recovery time, which can be anything from a few days to a few weeks. Some women feel run down or tired, while others feel better once the process is over.

The time it takes for someone to recover physically from a miscarriage can be impacted by various factors, such as how long the miscarriage process took and how much they bled. Most women menstruate sometime between four and six weeks after miscarrying, with this period being longer and heavier than usual. It may take some time for periods to return to a regular pattern.

30.3% of women attended support groups after their miscarriages

Support, whether from a group, family, friends, a partner, colleagues, or others, can play an important role in the emotional and psychological healing process after a miscarriage. Find out how our respondents received support after the loss of their pregnancies below.

Physical recovery is only part of the healing process following a miscarriage. While the majority of women feel physically well after a few days, it can take much longer to heal from the emotional and mental impact. Many women who experience miscarriage seek support from family, friends, or others. Our survey revealed that:

• 30.3% of women turned to support groups after their miscarriages
• 23.3% received support from counsellors
• 18.3% were supported by family
• 7% received support from neighbours
• 4.9% turned to their friends for support
• 4.5% were supported by therapists
• 4% sought support from their partner
• 3.7% received support from colleagues
• 2.5% found support in online communities
• 1.5% were supported by faith groups

A study published in the US in 2020 highlights the need for effective support after a miscarriage. One month after early miscarriage, 29% of women had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 24% experienced anxiety, and 11% had depression. Nine months after early miscarriage, 18% had PTSD, 17% had anxiety, and 6% experienced depression.

1 in 100 women are at risk of recurrent miscarriage

In the UK, approximately one in 100 women are at risk of recurrent miscarriage. This figure is approximately three times more than is expected by chance.

Recurrent miscarriage is a complicated issue that requires a great deal more research. What we do know is that several different factors may increase the chances of recurrent miscarriage. These factors include:

Embryonic abnormalities: Abnormalities in the embryo often play a role in single miscarriages. However, this is less likely to be the cause of multiple miscarriages than other factors.

Age and previous pregnancies: The older a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the higher the risk of embryonic abnormalities. This increases the chances of her having a miscarriage. A woman may also be more likely to miscarry if she has had recurrent miscarriages in the past.

Lifestyle factors and weight: Excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine, smoking, and a body mass index (BMI) higher than 25 can increase the risk of miscarriage. These may also be factors in recurrent miscarriage in some women.

Genetic factors: Some women or their partners have an abnormality in one of their chromosomes, which may cause problems if inherited by their babies. These genetic factors may be one of the reasons why some women experience multiple miscarriages.

Autoimmune factors: The bodies of women who have autoimmune responses produce antibodies such as antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), which react against their bodies’ own tissues. There’s a link between these antibodies and recurrent miscarriage. A 2011 Italian study found that 15% of women who have experienced three or more miscarriages have antiphospholipid antibodies in their blood.

Uterine abnormalities: Women with serious abnormalities in their uterus and who leave those abnormalities untreated may be at higher risk of recurrent miscarriage or giving birth prematurely.

Weak cervix: In women with a weak cervix, the cervix opens too early in the pregnancy, resulting in miscarriage. A weak cervix is one of the possible causes of second and third-trimester miscarriages.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): While many women have PCOS, this common condition usually causes absent or irregular periods or minor changes in their appearance. This condition has been linked to an increased risk of recurrent miscarriage, although more research in this area is needed.

Diabetes and thyroid problems: While diabetes and thyroid disorders have been factors in single miscarriages, they should not cause recurrent miscarriages if they are controlled through treatment.

14.6% of respondents had a successful pregnancy after miscarrying

While 49.7% of the women we surveyed were still trying to conceive during the survey period, 14.6% said they went on to have successful pregnancies after a miscarriage. Explore what the other respondents said below.

Our survey found that 29.9% of women who had miscarried were currently pregnant. 5.9% of respondents said they were exploring fertility treatments in the hope of increasing their chances of having a successful pregnancy.

A miscarriage, especially an early miscarriage, does not mean that a woman will experience more miscarriages in the future. A 2017 Canadian study found that, after three early miscarriages, there’s a 73% chance that a woman will go on to have a successful pregnancy.

24.1% of the women we surveyed were 65 years old or older. Let’s take a look at the other age groups whose responses we surveyed on social media.

While the 65 and older group was the biggest in our survey, other age groups were also well-represented:

• 12.3% were aged 55 to 64
• 19.3% were in the 45 to 54 age group
• 18.1% were aged between 35 and 44 years old
• 9.4% were in the 25 to 34 age group
• 16.9% were younger than 25

As mentioned, age is one of the factors that can increase the risk of miscarriage. NHS data shows that, in women under 30, approximately one in 10 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and in women aged 35 to 39, up to two in 10 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. In women over 45, more than five in 10 pregnancies will end in miscarriage.

Whether early or late, miscarriage can be an upsetting, traumatic experience. Sadly, some women lose more than one pregnancy, and the trauma of the experience can be compounded if they do not know why recurrent miscarriages occur.

Our recurrent miscarriage screen is designed for women who have experienced two or more miscarriages. The results of the screen will offer insights into possible causes and allow us to offer advice on reducing miscarriage risks and improving your chances of a successful pregnancy.

The graph data used in this article was sourced from an independent sample of 19,189 people from X, Quora, Reddit, TikTok, and Threads. Responses are collected within a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Engagement estimates how many people in the UK are participating. Demographics are determined using many features, including name, location, and self-disclosed description. Privacy is preserved using k-anonymity and differential privacy. The results of our survey are based on what people describe online — questions were not posed to the people in the sample.