International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Women who have recurrent miscarriages should ensure they receive a medical check-up, it has been claimed.

Sarah Montagu, admin secretary at the Association of Radical Midwives, said there are particular conditions which can now be tested for which may affect a woman's ability to carry a child.

"There is something called lupus which is like an immune system problem and that can be checked out," she noted.

However, Ms Montagu commented that in some cases miscarriages can occur for no particular reason, simply because there was an isolated problem with the particular pregnancy.

"If someone just had one miscarriage and is generally healthy, then it could be just one of those things," she suggested, indicating that there is no presumption of a repeat occurrence.

However, according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, complications in early pregnancy or in previous pregnancies can increase the likelihood of future problems.