ABSTRACT
Sporadic miscarriage is the commonest complication of pregnancy. Between 10% and 15% of clinically recognised pregnancies miscarry (Miller et al., 1980; Wilcox et al., 1988). However, when subclinical or biochemical pregnancies are included the miscarriage rate is much higher −30% of fertilised ova fail to implant and a further 30% of early pregnancies will only be recognised if sensitive β human chorionic gonodotropin (hCG) assays are used (Wilcox et al., 1988; Chard, 1991). Less than 50% of fertilised ova result in the birth of a live child.
