The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology(RCOG) has updated its guidance for doctors on caring for people with recurrent miscarriage

A new patient leaflet has been published and is now available.

The update centres around the definition of what a recurrent miscarriage is and how it is interpreted.

There is also to be more consideration for those who have suffered two recurrent miscarriages and the timings surrounding them.

The leaflet also includes updated information about causes, treatments and testing.

The Miscarriage Association(MA) has published the information, which states that recurrent miscarriages used to be defined as three or more miscarriages, but no longer necessarily one after the other.

This means that if a woman has a healthy pregnancy between three recurrent miscarriages, it will still be considered recurrent.

It also stated that if a woman has had three recurrent early miscarriages, they should be offered some tests to see if there is an underlying reason for the losses. Although, a woman could now be offered testing after two miscarriages if they are in their late 30s, if it has taken a long time to conceive, or if their GP believes there could be an underlying issue.

A spokeswoman for the MA said: “While the RCOG guidance is widely respected and followed across the UK, it is not actually compulsory for hospitals or clinicians to follow its recommendations, and there may be differences between different hospitals.

“Whatever your circumstances, knowing what is now recommended – and what is not – might help you feel more confident in asking questions about your care.”

To find out more about the work of the MA, click here.

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