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Miscarriage Myths

Some women worry that they have done something to cause their pregnancy loss. ​​

​The lack of a discernible cause and the suddenness of the tragedy is especially difficult, leaving a great sense of loss and a need for understanding.

What causes Miscarriage

  • The likelihood of early pregnancy loss occurring increases as a woman gets older.
  • Early pregnancy loss occurs in more than one third of pregnancies in women older than 40 years.​
  • Smoking, alcohol, and caffeine also have been studied as causes of early pregnancy loss
  • Alcohol use in the first trimester may slightly increase the risk of early pregnancy loss, but the research is not clear

What Does not cause Miscarriage

  • Working, exercising, having sex, or having used birth control pills before getting pregnant do not cause early pregnancy loss
  • Morning sickness does not cause early pregnancy loss
  • Some women who have held had an early pregnancy loss believe that is was caused by a recent fall, blow, or even a fright (in most cases, this is not true)
  • Consuming 200 mg or less of caffeine a day (the amount in two cups of coffee) does not appear to increase the risk early pregnancy loss
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