When reading or listening to statistics on miscarriage, a lot of numbers and percentages are thrown around – which can be quite alarming if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive. The truth is that statistics can sometimes be confusing, so you want to make sure you get reliable facts and complete information.
For example, you may have heard that a staggering 75% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. If this number seems outlandishly high, it’s because this statistic is misleading unless you understand the context.
Some doctors and researchers claim that an estimated 75% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, but this figure includes fertilized eggs that fail to implant as well as verified pregnancies that end in miscarriage. It’s estimated that about 70% of fertilized eggs never actually turn into a pregnancy— whether or not those should be considered as miscarriages is still up for debate among doctors.
If you break down the percentage of miscarriage by week, you will find a more accurate and comforting picture. The further you get into your pregnancy, the lower your chance of miscarriage becomes:
- Miscarriage is most common before you can detect a heartbeat (between 6-7 weeks) and often before you even know you’re pregnant.
- 80% of miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks.
- The chance of miscarriage from 6-10 weeks is between 0.5% and 10%.
- After 14 weeks, the chance of miscarriage drops to about 1%.
In addition, some other factors may increase your risk, such as age and previous miscarriages.
If you have concerns about miscarriage or pregnancy, the pregnancy team at All About Women is here to support you and answer any questions you may have. Contact our Lake City or Gainesville Women’s Clinic today to schedule an appointment.
