Women who suffer recurrent miscarriages may not have enough stem cells in the lining of their uterus to carry a baby full term, a new study shows.

Between 15-25 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage and one in 100 women trying to conceive suffer recurrent miscarriages, defined as the loss of three or more consecutive pregnancies.

A UK research team, studying tissue samples from women suffering recurrent miscarriage, discovered that they could isolate fewer stem cells from them when compared to women in the study’s control group.

The lining of the uterus must renew itself each cycle, each miscarriage and successful birth, a capacity that is dependent upon the resident stem cell population.  A shortage of stem cells is associated with the accelerated aging of the tissue. Such aging cells mount an inflammatory response, which may facilitate implantation of an embryo but is detrimental for its further development, the researchers note in their study, which is published in Stem Cells.

The researchers now intend to take a two-fold approach to treat the problem. They plan to find ways to improve the screening of women at risk of miscarriage, and they also will explore using drugs and other procedures to help the embryo implant more successfully.