[Epidemiology of loss pregnancy]

Abstract

Objectives: Study of epidemiology of pregnancy loss.

Materials and method: A systematic review of the literature was performed using Pubmed and the Cochrane library databases and the guidelines from main international societies.

Results: The occurrence of first trimester miscarriage is 12% of pregnancies and 25% of women. Miscarriage risk factors are ages of woman and man, body mass index greater than or equal to 25kg/m(2), excessive coffee drinking, smoking and alcohol consumption, exposure to magnetic fields and ionizing radiation, history of abortion, some fertility disorders and impaired ovarian reserve. Late miscarriage (LM) complicates less than 1% of pregnancies. Identified risk factors are maternal age, low level of education, living alone, history of previous miscarriage, of premature delivery and of previous termination of pregnancy, any uterine malformation, trachelectomy, existing bacterial vaginosis, amniocentesis, a shortened cervix and a dilated cervical os with prolapsed membranes. Fetal death in utero has a prevalence of 2% in the world and 5/1000 in France. Its main risk factors are detailed in the chapter.

Keywords: Avortement spontané; Fausse couche; Fetal loss; Miscarriage; Mort fœtale in utero; Perte de grossesse; Perte fœtale; Pregnancy loss; Spontaneous abortion; Stillbirth.