Abstract
Different clinical, laboratory chemistry and sonographic tools and methods enable an early and reliable diagnosis and assessment of pregnancy during the first trimester. Determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) over time facilitates differentiation between intact and disturbed implantation of the embryo. The use of transvaginal sonography provides information on the site of implantation, the vitality of the embryo and the presence of a multiple pregnancy. Sonographic assessment also allows a largely reliable determination of gestational age. The term “pregnancy loss” stands for a (non-artificial) loss of pregnancy before the child becomes viable. It is important to note the distinction between sporadic and recurrent pregnancy losses. The latter occur when there are three or more consecutive miscarriages. The first part of the chapter deals with the clinical stages and the various causes of sporadic pregnancy losses, while the second part deals with recurrent pregnancy losses and their risk factors.
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von Steinburg, S.P., Schleußner, E., Kuon, R., Vomstein, K., Toth, B. (2023). Disorders of Early Pregnancy and Pregnancy Loss. In: Huppertz, B., Schleußner, E. (eds) The Placenta. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66256-4_10
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