Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Immunological aetiologies and associations with mental health

Abstract

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is an obstetric condition estimated to affect 2–4% of childbearing individuals globally. Due to its varied nature, medical societies globally differ in their diagnostic criteria. Its aetiologies are numerous, ranging from anatomic abnormalities to endocrine and immunological factors. Autoimmune factors can attribute to approximately 20% of cases and include dysregulation of immune cells, cytokine production and antiphospholipid syndrome. Treatment pathways vary by aetiology; however, many cases remain unexplained, adding an additional level of complexity to this condition. Due to its recurrent nature, this type of pregnancy loss has profound impacts on mental health during subsequent pregnancies. While some aspects of RPL have been widely investigated, there continues to be a gap in research, such as its impacts on non-birthing parents and specific sociodemographic groups.