About a quarter of all pregnancies are lost to miscarriage every year and this may be due to many reasons. Although any woman can miscarry, some are more predisposed to miscarry than others.

We have put together ten risk factors that can put you at a higher risk for miscarriage;

1)     Medications: Some medications have been linked to increased risk of miscarriage, so it’s important to ask your doctor about the safety of any medications you’re taking, even while you’re trying to conceive. This goes for prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin.

2)     Environmental toxins: Environmental factors that might increase your risk include lead; arsenic; some chemicals, like formaldehyde, benzene, and ethylene oxide; and large doses of radiation or anesthetic gases. Some studies have found a greater risk of miscarriage when the father has been exposed to mercury, lead, and some industrial chemicals and pesticides

3)     Obesity: Some studies have shown a link between obesity and miscarriage.

4)     Age: Older women are more likely to conceive a baby that has a chromosomal abnormality and to miscarry as a result. Usually, 40-year-olds are about twice as likely to miscarry as 20-year-olds. Your risk of miscarriage also rises with each child you bear.

5)     A history of miscarriages: Women who have had two or more miscarriages in a row are more likely than other women to miscarry again.

6)     Chronic diseases or disorders: Diseases such as diabetes and certain inherited blood clotting disorders, autoimmune disorders (such as lupus), and hormonal disorders (such as polycystic ovary syndrome) are some of the conditions that could increase the risk of miscarriage.

7)     Uterine or cervical problems: Having certain congenital uterine abnormalities, severe uterine adhesions (bands of scar tissue), or a weak or abnormally short cervix (known as cervical insufficiency) up the odds for a miscarriage.

8)     A history of birth defects or genetic problems:  If you, your partner, or family members have a genetic abnormality, have had one identified in a previous pregnancy, or have given birth to a child with a birth defect, you’re at higher risk for miscarriage.

9)     Infections: Research has shown a somewhat higher risk for miscarriage if you have infections such as listeria, mumps, rubella, measles, gonorrhea and HIV etc.

10)  Smoking, drinking, and using drugs: Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs like cocaine and weed during pregnancy can all increase your risk for miscarriage.