Recurring miscarriages and anaemia? Thalassemia screening could hold the answer
To be accredited to Dr Aashita Jain, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Surat
When Meera experienced her third miscarriage in two years, no one understood the reason. She had no chronic illness, followed her doctor’s advice, and her scans looked normal. The one constant through her pregnancies? Severe anaemia that didn’t respond to supplements. It wasn’t until she underwent a thalassaemia screening that the real issue emerged: she was a beta-thalassemia carrier—a condition she’d never heard of.
This is the case for many women across South and Southeast Asia, where the risk of thalassemia is higher. India alone has an estimated 30–40 million beta-thalassemia carriers.
Understanding thalassemia
Thalassemia is a genetic disorder that affects haemoglobin production. With low haemoglobin, the body struggles to carry oxygen, leading to chronic anaemia. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, and dizziness. Since signs can be mild, many women don’t realise they’re carriers until they face pregnancy issues.
If both partners are carriers, each pregnancy has a 25% risk of the child inheriting a severe form like beta-thalassemia major.
The fertility connection
Women with thalassemia, especially those with severe anaemia, may experience recurrent miscarriages, preterm labour, or IUGR. In extreme cases, the foetus may develop anaemia in the womb, leading to heart failure or hydrops fetalis—a life-threatening condition that can result in miscarriage or stillbirth.
Why thalassaemia screening matters
Early detection helps couples make informed choices. For pregnant women, timely diagnosis allows doctors to monitor and manage the pregnancy better. Screening usually begins with a CBC to identify red blood cell abnormalities, followed by tests for abnormal haemoglobin. Genetic testing may confirm carrier status.
If both partners are carriers, prenatal tests like CVS or amniocentesis can detect whether the foetus has the condition.
What you should do
Couples should consider screening if:
• They have had multiple miscarriages or persistent anaemia
• They belong to high-risk ethnic groups
• They have a family history of thalassaemia or blood disorders
• They are planning pregnancy
Thalassemia may be silent, but its impact on pregnancy isn’t. A simple test can prevent complex problems later.
