Journal of Applied Medical Sciences

Factors Associated with Early Pregnancy Losses Among Residents of the UAE

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• Abstract

   

  The goal of this study was to determine the factors that contribute to early pregnancy losses among UAE residents. An early pregnancy loss is defined as loss of fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy, before week 12. Our study assessed several risk factors that can lead to a pregnancy loss such as: maternal age, ethnicity, marital status, occupation, lifestyle, stress, previous history pregnancy losses or significant family history, and previously diagnosed illnesses or abnormalities of female reproductive system.

  The data was collected from pregnant women of all nationalities, ages 18 to 45 attending Thumbay Hospital and Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman. The sample size of the study was 135 cases of early pregnancy loss and 134 controls, women with successful pregnancies.

  The risk of a pregnancy loss among pregnant women was significantly increased by history of previous pregnancy losses, bleeding during pregnancy, cervical weakness, and PCOS. Among other less significant factors that could possibly lead to a pregnancy loss was smoking during pregnancy and consanguinity of the couple. Therefore, we recommend couples screening and preconception counseling, especially for women who had experienced pregnancy losses before and those diagnosed with PCOS or cervical weakness.

   

  Keywords: Risk factors, Pregnancy loss.