Scientists have discovered a possible cause for why women have miscarriages. Wouldn't it be amazing if no woman ever had to experience a miscarriage again?
In a study, laboratory tests showed that women who had lost three or more babies had high levels of a molecule known as IL-33 in their womb cells. These molecules control whether or not the uterus accepts an embryo.
This is an amazing discovery. Any woman who has ever suffered a miscarriage will tell you that there is nothing more frustrating than receiving the devastating news that she has miscarried. She is told there's nothing she can do about it and is never given an answer as to why this happened. It leaves her feeling robbed. The emotional pain of miscarriage is indescribable, and the physical pain is traumatic.
If this research could parlay into the production of medication or a treatment to stop miscarriages once they start or prevent them altogether, women everywhere would breathe a collective sigh of relief. It would be a huge step for obstetrics and gynecological science.
The idea that there actually might be a way to stop women from having to experience the pain that comes with losing an unborn baby is very uplifting. I never knew how common miscarriages were until I had my own. All sorts of people tried to comfort me by sharing their own stories. It broke my heart for them. And if there were a chance of protecting other women from the kind of loss we went through, well that would be a true blessing.
Wouldn't it be amazing if this research could help develop a "cure" for miscarriages or an explanation for why they happen?
Image via Pho Tones_TAKUMA/Flickr
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Comments 68
Like many here: A cure? No, it's not a 'disease.' Nature knows what it's doing, selecting for healthy babies. An explanation? Yes. Then any research or possible treatment can be made for the controllable causes for the root of the problem.
This is ridiculous I believe miscarriage usually happens for a good reason. I have had a miscarriage and I believe it happened because the baby would have been deformed or something of that nature. It sounds bad but was probably for the best. We need not try to control things of this nature.
There are already some known causes of repeat miscarriages- if this adds something extra that women can be tested for and treated for, that's fabulous. Doctors should be willing to run tests and try to prevent the heartbreak that comes from miscarriage. The more knowledge we have, the more losses we'll prevent. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll even find a cure for all miscarriages. Sometimes there is something just not genetically right with the embryo. That's what happened with my first pregnancy- the baby just stopped developing and my body didn't even figure it out for weeks. Apparently something was just genetically wrong with the first cell that started dividing, and after a few weeks it just stopped. :( No one's fault, no fix for it, just bad genetic luck.
I have had several miscarriages as well. I have never heard of this test. While I don't expect a cure, an explenations would always be wonderful
My younger sister had THREE miscarriages and was left to believe that she could not have children. Well, she remarried a man who is about twelve years older than her, and he was told that he couldn't have children, well my nephew is SIX years old now! So ladies-don't give up hope! :)
This is an amazing discovery but only part of the issue. I have had 2 miscarriages one of which I miscarried a twin but the other miraculously survived and is with us today; he is 6 years old. The doctors told me that my body was able to realize that if I had carried both to term we would have all died because my body was just not capable of birthing twins due to an upside down uterus ( i really should not have been able to pregnant at all.) Mother Nature has her way of doing things; to protect us. I am lucky to have my son and also my daughter; but I realize that it is in fact a miracle and may have never happened at all.
This is wonderful news, I had 7 miscarriages before my daughter was born.