The majority of Americans inaccurately believe miscarriage is rare
and misunderstand its causes, creating an often isolating and
guilt-ridden experience for those who experience it. These are the
findings in the first-ever national survey to assess attitudes and
perceptions towards miscarriage, which was conducted by researchers at
Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of
Yeshiva University. The study data was presented at the American
Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Boston.
The survey of more than 1,000 women and men found 65 percent believe
miscarriage is rare, when in reality it occurs in one in four
pregnancies. While knowledge of miscarriage rates was low, respondents
accurately assessed that it is traumatic, with 66 percent believing the
emotional impact is severe and potentially equivalent to the loss of a
child. Research shows understanding the cause of miscarriage can reduce
feelings of guilt or blame; however, currently the origin is only
identified in 19 percent of patients.
