Frequency of recurrent spontaneous abortion and its influence on further marital relationship and illness: the Okazaki Cohort Study in Japan

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) on marital relationships, and the association between past/present illness and RSA.

Material and methods: A total of 2733 Japanese women who underwent a medical examination responded to the questionnaire.

Results: The frequency of recurrent miscarriage and two or more consecutive RSA were 0.88% and 4.2%, respectively. Women with a history of miscarriages (hazard ratio: 1.596) and RSA (hazard ratio: 3.103) were at a higher risk of their relationships ending as compared with the women without a history of miscarriage. Existence of a relation was seen between a history of RSA and the occurrence of gastric ulcer, gastritis, fatty liver, and atopic dermatitis. Overall, 89.5% of the women with RSA experienced cumulative live births.

Conclusions: Miscarriage was found to be a severe life event with an influence on marital relationships, and to be associated with an elevated risk of gastric disease or atopic dermatitis.