A breakthrough test developed by UK scientists may offer answers, and hope, to women experiencing repeated, unexplained miscarriages. Researchers from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust have found that in many cases, the cause of pregnancy loss may lie in the womb lining itself, even before conception occurs.
Around one in six pregnancies ends in miscarriage, most within the first 12 weeks.
Published in Science Advances, the study reveals that an essential process, known as the “decidual reaction”, which prepares the womb to support an embryo, is often disrupted in women with a history of miscarriage. This disruption creates an unstable environment that still allows for implantation but increases the risk of early pregnancy loss.
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Lead researcher Dr. Joanne Muter said, “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 before pregnancy even begins.”
The research, funded by pregnancy charity Tommy’s, involved over 1,500 biopsies from more than 1,300 women. It led to the creation of a diagnostic test that can identify abnormal womb lining responses. The test is currently being piloted with more than 1,000 patients at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research.
Professor Jan Brosens, senior author, explained that while chromosomal abnormalities in embryos are known to increase miscarriage risk, especially in women over 35, this study highlights that recurrent miscarriages can also be linked to womb conditions that persist regardless of age. “We now have the tools to screen for preventable miscarriage risks and evaluate treatments that improve the womb lining before pregnancy,” he said.
One woman who benefited from the new approach is Holly Milikouris, who suffered five miscarriages. After participating in the trial and receiving treatment, she gave birth to two healthy children. “It was life-changing,” she said, reported The Independent. “Each miscarriage left us devastated and hopeless. But the test gave us answers and our family.”
