Will I have tests to find out why I miscarried?

If you have had a late miscarriage or 3 miscarriage in a row (recurrent miscarriage) you may be able to have tests to find out why. Recurrent miscarriage is very rare, affecting around 1% of couples.

If you have had 1 or 2 early miscarriages (a miscarriage that happens in the first 3 months of pregnancy), it’s unlikely that you will be offered any tests. This policy can seem frustrating. You’ve been through a traumatic experience and it is completely understandable to want to know why it happened. The reason for the policy is because most women who have 1 or 2 miscarriages will go on to have successful pregnancies.

However, some hospitals may see women after 2 miscarriages in a row. It is worth talking to your GP to find out whether you can be referred for tests.

Find out more about your care after 1 or 2 miscarriages.

Find out more about your care after 3 miscarriages. 

Finding a cause

It’s important to know that sometimes doctors will not be able to find a reason why you have miscarried. Try not to worry too much if this is the case. Most couples are likely to have a successful pregnancy in the future, particularly if the test results are normal.

Tommy’s research into miscarriage

1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss or preterm birth – and most parents never find out the real reason why. Our research is entirely dedicated to finding out why miscarriages happen and how to prevent it in the future.

Find out more about our Tell me why campaign.

Getting pregnant again

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to guarantee that you won’t have another miscarriage. However, there are things that you and your partner can do now to improve your health that will increase your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Find out more about trying again after miscarriage and planning for pregnancy.