[No consensus on the definition, diagnosis and treatment of habitual abortion in the Netherlands].

OBJECTIVE

To review the current policy in diagnosis and treatment of recurrent miscarriage in the Netherlands.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHOD

A printed questionnaire was sent in 1996 to all 125 departments of gynaecology in the Netherlands with questions about definition, investigation and therapy of recurrent miscarriage.

RESULTS

The response rate was 90% (n = 112). Twenty-nine per cent of the respondents defined recurrent miscarriage as having two or more abortions and 71% as three or more abortions. In 42% of the departments a diagnostic protocol for recurrent miscarriage was present. Diagnostic investigations most frequently performed were vaginal ultrasound (79%), parental chromosome analysis (78%), thyroid-stimulating hormone (72%), lupus anticoagulant (69%), blood glucose (65%), hysterosalpingography (56%) and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG, IgM) (56%). Therapy most frequently applied was prescription of folic acid (53%).

CONCLUSION

The definition of recurrent miscarriage differed. Uncertainty about a rational diagnostic approach was evident from the large number of tests requested by 20-50% of the respondents. Some diagnostic tests like immunological investigation and search for infectious factors were not followed by a therapeutical intervention.