Researchers conducted an online survey that revealed feelings of guilt and shame in couples who experience miscarriage are aggravated due to misconceptions about the causes.
Misconceptions about miscarriage are common, and they can add more pain for those suffering through it, according to a new survey.
The survey was conducted among 1,084 American men and women 18 to 69 years of age to determine what the general public knows about miscarriage and its frequency, causes and how miscarriage affects them emotionally.
The findings were published online Wednesday, May 6, in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Contrary to what 55 percent survey takers thought about miscarriage being rare, occurring in less than five percent of pregnancies, the truth is that it generally occurs in approximately one in four pregnancies as it is the most frequent of pregnancy complications, Tech Times noted.
Following a miscarriage, couples who are left heartbroken and guilty often blame themselves.
While neither lifting a heavy object, taking birth control pills, or getting into an argument have anything to do with causing a miscarriage, several couples go through this heartbreaking experience each year.
The respondents of the new survey who sought to discover what adults knew about miscarriage and the misconceptions surrounding the heartbreaking event, revealed that the couples who experienced it were shocked to learn how common it is, more importantly, they aren't even to blame, study coauthor Dr. Zev Williams, reproductive endocrinologist and director of the program for Early and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City told Yahoo Parenting.
According to Williams, miscarriage happens when a woman's body ends the pregnancy realizing that something is not right, and the baby can't be brought to term and survive. Williams even pointed out on ancient thinking about miscarriage that still persists because it's not discussed. The study aimed to find out how much this secrecy has encouraged myths about it.
Around 22 percent assumed lifestyle choices such as taking drugs, drinking alcohol or smoking were to be blamed, however these are only contributing factors. The truth is that three out of five miscarriages are a result of genetic problem, abnormal chromosomes. Some known reasons also include autoimmune disorders such as anti-thyroid antibodies, endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and structural abnormalities of the uterus.
More than 7 in 10 of those surveyed were under an impression that long-term stress or stressful events (76 percent) could bring about a miscarriage. Miscarriages are almost always linked with genetic mutations or medical conditions that arises suddenly and not through fault of either parent, the Mayo Clinic clarified.
While 88 percent of the people want to know the reason of a miscarriage so that it can be prevented in future, 78 percent wanted to identify the cause even if nothing could be done to stop the miscarriage in the future.
