Recurrent spontaneous early pregnancy loss and low dose aspirin

Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy, occurring in 10-15% of pregnant women. Accurate figures on prevalence are not available but it has been estimated that 2-5% of women have 3 or more miscarriages. The lack of methodological rigour in controlled trials of treatment efficacy in women with recurrent miscarriage makes it difficult to estimate the efficacy of treatment for this condition. To date, there is no evidence of improved outcome with aspirin compared to placebo or no treatment. Furthermore, animal data and limited human data suggest that prenatal use of aspirin may be associated with increased bleeding tendency, congenital malformations and cognitive and behavioural defects in the offspring. Seen and considered the lack of efficacy of low-dose aspirin and the potential for harm to the female and her offspring, the practice of recommending aspirin to women with recurrent miscarriage should be discontinued.