Clinical and psychological aspects of reproductive losses

An analysis of the current literature shows that today there is an increased number of complications in women during pregnancy, which pose a real threat not only to the health and life of the future mother, but also to the unborn child, which in turn can act as an additional stressor. The women who have experienced constant fear, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy give birth to children who become sensitive to external stimuli, including frequent crying and poor sleep, and are at increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders as they grow up.For women of reproductive age around the world, anxiety is a serious problem often leading to other mental health issues. If the level of anxiety is constantly rising indefinitely, this can lead to negative outcomess, including pregnancy interruption. In addition, an increased level of anxiety also affects the somatic state of a pregnant woman, which can lead to the development of psychosomatic illness. Miscarriage, especially recurrent miscarriage, is also a risk marker for obstetric complications, including preterm birth, fetal growth retardation, placental abruption and stillbirth in future pregnancies, as well as a factor of long-term health problems.Miscarriage affects psychological well-being of some women, increasing their stress levels after the negative experience. Women who have suffered a miscarriage may be at risk of maternal stress during the next pregnancy, which in turn is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The presence of one reproductive loss in a woman’s history leads to impaired reproductive function and affects the course of pregnancy and childbirth. These risks increase, namely 16%, 25%, 45% and 54% after one to four previous consecutive spontaneous abortions, respectively.It is also worth considering the fact that each next pregnancy after a previous loss is perceived by the woman as more stressful due to the fear of repeating the loss. Therefore, examination, counselling and management of pregnant women with reproductive losses should be comprehensive and include not only highly professional medical care, but also appropriate psychological support.