Hormone Cafe

Can Miscarriages Be Prevented? What Every Woman Should Know | Episode 7

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In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson, holistic OB-GYN and founder of Vera Health and Fertility, tackles one of the most emotional and misunderstood topics in women’s health — miscarriage.

Dr. Sarah shares the four main causes she sees most often and how to prevent them: poor egg quality, hormone imbalance, uterine lining issues, and inflammation. She walks you through how each of these areas affects fertility and offers practical, science-backed ways to strengthen your body, balance your hormones, and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

You’ll learn why one miscarriage is reason enough to do a full workup — and how small optimizations can make a big difference in future pregnancies.

 

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

🩸 Why You Deserve Answers After a Miscarriage

  • You shouldn’t have to wait for multiple miscarriages before getting tested.
  • A single miscarriage can reveal important clues about your health and hormones.
  • A full fertility workup helps prevent future loss.

    • 🧬 1. Egg and Sperm Quality

    • Up to 90% of miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo.
    • Egg quality depends heavily on antioxidants — eat leafy greens, berries, avocado, turmeric, and drink green tea daily.
    • Key supplements that support egg and sperm health: CoQ10, resveratrol, alpha-lipoic acid (under provider guidance).
    • Don’t forget your partner — poor sperm quality contributes just as much as poor egg quality.
    • A sperm analysis can check for morphology, motility, and chromosomal integrity.

      • 🌸 2. Hormone Balance

      • It takes 3–4 months for your body to recruit and mature an egg — hormone health during that time is crucial.
      • Estrogen must rise steadily in the follicular phase to prepare a strong follicle.
      • After ovulation, the luteal phase relies on progesterone and estrogen balance to support implantation.
      • Signs of imbalance: short luteal phase, spotting before period, PMS, or inconsistent cycles.
      • Each healthy cycle builds momentum — strong hormone flow month to month improves egg quality and future fertility.

        • 🏡 3. Uterine Lining Health

        • The uterine lining (endometrium) needs to be thick, healthy, and inflammation-free to support implantation.
        • Endometrial biopsies can reveal hidden issues like infection or chronic inflammation.
        • Red flags: brown spotting, pain, light or irregular periods.
        • A healthy uterus should “shed clean” each month — incomplete shedding can build unhealthy layers over time.
        • Think of your uterus like a hardwood floor, not a shag carpet — smooth, stable, and strong for implantation.

          • 🔥 4. Inflammation & Whole-Body Health

          • Systemic inflammation can affect your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
          • Common root causes:
            • Autoimmune disease or undiagnosed immune activation
            • Gut inflammation or leaky gut
            • Chronic infections or viruses
            • Environmental allergies or food sensitivities
            • Addressing gut health is key — the intestines sit directly over reproductive organs and can spread inflammation.
            • Supporting the immune system, identifying triggers, and using anti-inflammatory nutrition or therapies helps restore balance.

              • Key Takeaways:

              • Miscarriage is not random — most have identifiable, treatable causes.
              • Testing after one miscarriage can save time, heartbreak, and future loss.
              • Focus on four core areas: egg quality, hormone balance, uterine health, inflammation.
              • Each cycle is an opportunity to improve your future fertility.
              • You deserve a provider who will dig deeper, not tell you to “wait and see.”

                • Resources & Next Steps:

                If you’ve experienced a miscarriage or are preparing for pregnancy and want to optimize your fertility, Dr. Sarah and the Vera team can help uncover root causes and create a customized treatment plan.

                📍 Westminster, Colorado

                🌐 Learn more or schedule a visit: verafertility.com
                📧 Follow along on social: @verafertility

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                Hormone CafeBy Sarah Pederson