| Authors | M Formosa M P Brincat D Felice |
| Abstract | Objectives: Following an audit of an ongoing Miscarriage Clinic the question of whether it is justified to allow patients to suffer three miscarriages before investigation is put. Methods and Materials: Because of the increasing awareness of the problem of recurrent miscarriage a dedicated miscarriage clinic was set up in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Lukes Hospital, Medical School, Malta. The clinic is a referral service for patients with at least two miscarriages. The aims of the clinic are to investigate these patients with a view to making a diagnosis and advising on appropriate treatment. The couple are also provided with information, counselling and support which is an integral part of the management of this problem. A review of the clinical notes of one hundred and eighty patients who were assessed at the clinic were reviewed. Patients are investigated according to a standard protocol. The patients concerned were divided almost equally into those who had had two and those who had had three miscarriages. The causes of the miscarriages and the eventual outcome of the two groups were compared. Results: 180 cases from the clinic were suitable for this study. The greater majority of patients were nulliparous and had two miscarriages while 56 had had at least 3 miscarriages. The percentage of the 1st trimester miscarriages was 86.6% while 13.4% represented the 2nd trimester miscarriages. A cause for recurrent miscarriage was identified in just under 50% of patients with two recurrent miscarriages and 35% achieved a live healthy baby following treatment for a specific condition. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | recurrent miscarriage, investigation |