Products of conception testing can identify an underlying cause of recurrent miscarriage

When a woman has recurrent miscarriages, it is natural to ask the question, “Why did this happen?” Often, recurrent miscarriage indicates a chromosomal abnormality. One way to identify a chromosomal problem is products of conception testing. Our San Antonio fertility specialists may recommend this testing for women with recurrent pregnancy loss. This involves taking a sample of tissue from the miscarriage and performing analysis for a wide range of genetic conditions that could cause pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage tissue testing evaluates all chromosomes for genetic abnormalities

“Products of conception” is the term for the fetal and placental tissue that develops after fertilization and is expelled during a miscarriage. Products of conception testing evaluates a sample of miscarriage tissue. It analyzes all chromosomes to identify any abnormalities that could impact the ability for the pregnancy to progress normally.

For women with recurrent pregnancy loss, the information provided by miscarriage tissue testing can determine the best course of treatment to improve odds for a healthy, full-term pregnancy.

Each woman’s circumstances are different, and products of conception testing is not indicated in all cases. Most miscarriages are a result of random chromosome errors, and testing cannot predict the outcome of the next pregnancy. Our San Antonio fertility specialists will recommend testing when they believe it will provide information useful to achieving a woman’s fertility goals.

Sample collection for chromosomal products of conception testing

Collection of tissue samples after a miscarriage can be done for both spontaneous losses, as well as those that are completed through a surgical procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C). Your medical team will collect a small sample of the pregnancy tissue for testing, where an independent laboratory extracts DNA and completes the chromosome analysis.

Texas Fertility Center San Antonio can help patients prepare for and facilitate products of conception testing. While it can be daunting to complete, testing can be important for next steps, and our compassionate staff commonly walk women and couples through these tough times to get to answers. Contact our San Antonio fertility specialists for an appointment to discuss chromosomal and other diagnostic testing.