Pregnancy loss common in Australia, but data gaps hinder understanding for young people

Pregnancy loss is more common in Australia than previously estimated, with a new study finding nearly one in three women who gave birth in 2022 had experienced at least one miscarriage. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released the first-of-its-kind study, analyzing data from five states and territories, which also revealed that one in 10 women had experienced two or more miscarriages.

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Gaps in national data on pregnancy loss prevalence and care mean there's still much to learn about these experiences.

While the study sheds light on the prevalence of pregnancy loss before 20 weeks' gestation, experts emphasize that significant gaps in national data collection hinder a comprehensive understanding of these experiences. Currently, there is no routine national monitoring of pregnancy loss, leaving unique needs, particularly those of young people, unaddressed. "Gaps in national data on pregnancy loss prevalence and care mean there's still much to learn about these experiences," stated AIHW spokesperson Deanna Eldridge.

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There is a lot more work to be done. This is a scoping study, but this is just an amazingly important first step.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that younger individuals may experience pregnancy loss differently, often facing dismissive attitudes from medical professionals who focus on their future reproductive potential. Isabelle Oderberg, co-founder of the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition, noted that well-meaning comments about age can make younger people feel their loss is invalidated. "Language is often the only tool we have to remove the silence around grief... At the same time, language is also often the very thing that creates the silence by diminishing or dismissing the emotional impact," explained Marjolein Kammers from the University of Queensland's School of Psychology.

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I think that miscarriage is so often dismissed in general. But I think when you're younger and a medical professional sees you as not necessarily being at the end of your reproductive journey, they tend to be even more dismissive.

Laura Baxter shared her experience of a miscarriage at 24, where she initially dismissed heavy bleeding and extreme pain as unrelated to pregnancy due to contraceptive pill use. She described the pain as a "whole different level" and collapsed before seeking medical attention. Her GP ordered a scan, which confirmed the loss. Baxter's account underscores the emotional and physical toll of pregnancy loss, especially when it occurs unexpectedly and is initially misunderstood.

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Language is often the only tool we have to remove the silence around grief because we can use our words to acknowledge the loss and its impact.