Introduction
Aneuploidy or Embryonic Chromosomal Abnormality, is a frequent event in human embryos, and its incidence is higher in oocytes and embryos from women of advanced maternal age. Aneuploidy is also a contributing factor in infertile populations, such as couples with recurrent miscarriages, repetitive implantation failure. However, even in today’s age, many women are still being told that they miscarried due to embryonic chromosomal abnormalities (not the cause of the miscarriage), which means that the baby’s chromosome had some abnormality which led to the miscarriage. After an embryonic demise, some would choose to send the embryo sample for genetic or chromosomal abnormalities analysis to determine the root cause and have a proper closure.
“If the test results reveal that the embryo had chromosomal abnormalities, then we know it was just bad luck.”
We are sure that many women that miscarried have heard this very sentence before. However, how true is that statement exactly?
Common Misconception On Embryonic Chromosomal Abnormality
It is a common misconception that there is nothing the woman can do to prevent embryonic chromosomal abnormalities in subsequent pregnancies, and it depends on your luck.
While it is true that such chromosomal abnormalities are a result of the genetic mutation of the embryo, it is not true that the mutation happened without reason.
There is another school of thought that if you or your partner carry a chromosomal abnormality, it can be passed on to the developing embryo and cause a miscarriage. However, this is also another common misconception.
Causes of Embryonic Chromosomal Abnormality
Every year, Antai hospital has encountered many miscarriages caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. However, further analysis found that most of these patients had unidentified underlying conditions that resulted in embryonic chromosomal abnormalities.
The conditions can be categorized into internal and external environmental factors, and different environments will affect the cell division process.
Internal Environmental Factors
Chromosome abnormalities mostly originate in female meiosis. Recombination between homologous chromosomes is a critical event that occurs in the foetal ovary. The importance of altered recombination pertains to paternally as well as maternally derived trisomies, but as most aneuploidy arises during oogenesis, the female is at greater risk.
Internal environmental factors refer to conditions within the maternal body. Amongst all the patients that miscarried due to embryonic chromosomal abnormalities, 80 percent of them had some form of uterine malformation. The next most significant internal contributor is a reproductive immunological disorder. In particular, there were anti-embryonic antibodies in the maternal body.
Other contributing internal factors include:
- Intrauterine adhesions
- Intrauterine fibroids
- PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis
- Uterine Malformations
- Anti-Embryonic Antibodies etc.
In essence, conditions that can affect the uterine space and the amount of blood and nutrients supplied to the embryo can potentially influence the embryonic genes.
External Environmental Factors
External environmental factors include exposure to harmful substances such as toxic chemicals and radiation.
In the first trimester, the embryo is very vulnerable as most of the major body systems and the organs are developing during this time. Hence, it is very easy for the embryo to be affected by internal and external disturbances in the early development stages.
Treatment
The growth and maturation of the embryo results directly from the internal and external environmental factors of the mother, and the embryo itself is not the primary reason behind what led to the miscarriage.
Hence, the best treatment is to have a comprehensive check for any pre-existing or undiagnosed conditions within the maternal body and check if the living situation of the couple has any potentially hazardous materials. Afterward, patients should undergo the necessary treatments and adjust their external environment, to prevent another embryonic chromosomal abnormality.
If results reveal that the woman’s uterus can no longer have proper implantation, Antai hospital offers uterine endometrial transplantation as an experimental treatment option.
A Note From Antai Hospital
Given that most embryonic chromosomal abnormality results from internal and external environmental factors, we usually do not recommend patients to send the embryo for testing after a miscarriage has occurred.
Not only is it an extra financial burden for some couples, but the results serve no purpose in ensuring that the subsequent pregnancy can be a successful one. Instead, patients can use that money to test for any possible conditions within the maternal body resulting in an embryonic chromosomal abnormality and receive appropriate treatment.
Remember, a miscarriage due to embryonic chromosomal abnormalities is not because of bad luck, neither is it inherited from the parents! There are things a couple can do to prevent history from repeating itself. Antai hospital specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent miscarriages. Get in touch with the hospital to start your journey towards successful pregnancies today.
Antai Hospital’s Commitment
Antai Hospital’s full refund policy for the miscarriage prevention treatments we provide should already be the best guarantee for a healthy pregnancy. Patients should rest assured, can and should go about their everyday life, focusing their diet on vegetables, beans, celery, and other fiber-rich foods. Besides that, an active lifestyle of yoga and swimming should also be incorporated to help relieve stress and increase blood circulation, which is beneficial for the fetus’s development and the mother’s health. With our assurance, a healthy lifestyle, and peace of mind, you can go through a healthy pregnancy with no complications.
Recurrent miscarriages are no doubt a heavy blow to the patient’s physical and mental health. All we can do is to help ease the burden and decrease your trauma, to slowly help you overcome the anxiety with the love and care that we provide at Antai Hospital.
Trust in Antai Hospital and trust in yourself, your pregnancy is our priority.