Abstract

Pregnancy loss can have significant psychological implications for a couple and can impact adversely on relationships. Miscarriage affects approximately 20% of pregnancies and a further 5-20% of pregnancies undergo termination. Depression, anxiety, and grief are important consequences of early pregnancy loss. This study used the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study, which involved >5000 healthy women across different countries, recruited after 15 weeks’ gestation, to investigate whether women with previous miscarriages or terminations had higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and altered behaviours in their next pregnancy. Women completed different surveys during pregnancy, designed to look at anxiety, stress and depression. Of the 5465 women included in this study, 10% had one and 2% had two previous miscarriages, while 8% had one previous termination. Women with one previous miscarriage had increased anxiety, perceived stress and depression, and limiting/resting behaviour in pregnancy. In women with two miscarriages, depression was more common and they had higher scores for limiting/resting behaviour in pregnancy. Women with one previous termination also displayed higher perceived stress and depression at 15 weeks’ gestation. This study highlights the psychological implications of miscarriage and termination of pregnancy. While the findings support other studies that have shown the same, this study shows the amount of impact on subsequent pregnancies and that this continues up to 20 week’s gestation.