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Article: Most Miscarriages Go Unrecognized, Study Says; 22 Percent of Pregnancies End Spontaneously in First Month
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 28, 1988
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A new test revealed that most miscarriages happen during the
first month of pregnancy, long before most women realize conception
has occurred.
"We can say that the majority of early pregnancy loss appears to
be unrecognized," said Dr. Allen J. Wilcox, who directed the study.
His work suggests that 22 percent of all pregnancies end
spontaneously in the first month. Another 9 percent result in
miscarriages after the pregnancy becomes apparent.
The study confirmed what many scientists have long suspected: The
female body discards a large percentage of its fetuses in the first
month or so after conception.
Wilcox said the body probably rejects fetuses because they are
defective. When ...