Why Choose Us for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Care?

Experts in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

The director of the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program at the University of Chicago Hospitals, Mary Stephenson, MD, MSc, is an internationally renowned clinician and researcher in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). She developed Canada’s largest multi-disciplinary RPL program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Here, she sees women who have experienced multiple reproductive losses, including repeated miscarriages, late pregnancy loss, and/or failed in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Emotional Support

Our physicians and staff understand the mix of emotions--from profound sadness and grief to frustration and rage--that accompanies recurrent pregnancy loss. Our goal is to give our patients validation and help them regain some sense of control. We take a unique, holistic approach to RPL--helping to meet the emotional needs of the woman and her partner.

Our RPL nurses offer emotional support by phone as well as referrals to other caring professionals, such as social workers and psychologists. During their treatment and pregnancies, our patients are encouraged to call the RPL nurses whenever the need arises, and our RPL nurses call mothers after the birth to see how they are doing.

State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Procedures

To determine a possible cause for RPL, we offer a full range of tests, including genetic, hormonal, anatomical, and autoimmune studies. These studies may include blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, and minimally invasive procedures such as an endometrial biopsy, or study of the uterine lining. As much as possible, these procedures are performed in the office--which means patients can go home the same day.

Innovative Treatments

When a cause can be determined, we provide the most current treatments, including surgical and non-surgical procedures. For example, outpatient surgery may need to be performed to remove a septum. This procedure can be done with a minimally invasive approach--meaning less pain and quicker recovery time than traditional surgeries.

Dr. Stephenson has extensively studied the use of herparins in pregnancy. She and her research team have determined the best dosing of heparins for use in pregnancy as well as determining how effective standard and low molecular weight heparins are in overcoming pregnancy loss. Dr. Stephenson has more than a decade of experience studying the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for autoimmune and alloimmune causes for recurrent pregnancy loss.

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