If you've experienced more than one pregnancy loss, you already know that "just try again" is not the comfort it's often intended to be. Recurrent pregnancy loss is a real, medically recognized experience — not bad luck repeated, and not something you did wrong. Understanding what's actually happening can be one small piece of steadier ground during an incredibly difficult time.
What "Recurrent Pregnancy Loss" Actually Means
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is generally defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses, most often occurring before 20 weeks. It's a distinct clinical category — not simply "having a miscarriage more than once" in a casual sense — and it's recognized as its own area of investigation and care, separate from a single, isolated loss.
You're Not Alone in This
Pregnancy loss is far more common than most people realize before they experience it themselves — a significant percentage of confirmed pregnancies end in early loss, and recurrent loss, while less common than a single loss, still affects a meaningful number of people trying to build a family. Much of this happens quietly, without public conversation, which can make an already isolating experience feel even more alone.
Recurrent pregnancy loss is not bad luck repeated, and not something you did wrong.
What's Known About Underlying Causes
Research points to several categories of factors associated with recurrent pregnancy loss, though it's worth knowing upfront that in a significant portion of cases, no clear single cause is ever identified — which is its own difficult reality to sit with, but an honest one:
Chromosomal differences in either partner, or in the pregnancy itself, are among the most well-established contributors.
Structural differences in the uterus can play a role in some cases.
Including thyroid function and other hormonal patterns.
Certain immune-related conditions are associated with increased risk.
Certain clotting disorders are linked to recurrent loss in some cases.
Sperm DNA fragmentation has been identified as a contributing factor in some cases of recurrent loss, an area of research that's often overlooked in a topic historically framed as solely about the person carrying the pregnancy.
What a Workup for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Typically Investigates
After recurrent loss, a thorough medical workup will often look into genetic factors (for both partners and, where possible, pregnancy tissue), uterine structure, hormonal and thyroid function, clotting factors, and immune markers — aiming to identify a cause where one exists, while acknowledging that a clear answer isn't always found.
