Intimate Partner Violence and Miscarriage: Understanding the Correlation
Anyone who has experienced a miscarriage knows how painful it is. In addition to being emotionally upsetting, it can also have physical consequences and long-term health ramifications. Intimate partner violence (IPV), while one of numerous factors that might cause miscarriage, is frequently disregarded. This blog article will examine the relationship between IPV use and miscarriage rates and explain why it’s crucial to comprehend this connection.
Intimate Partner Violence: What Is It?
Domestic violence, often referred to as intimate partner violence, is a pattern of conduct in which one partner abuses the other through physical, sexual, or emotional means. It can also involve verbal abuse, threats, and intimidation, as well as actions like beating, slapping, pushing, or choking. No matter the relationship type, age, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic standing, IPV can occur.
The Relationship Between IPV and Miscarriage Rates
According to studies, miscarriage rates and IPV use are strongly correlated. According to a research in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, women who experienced IPV throughout their pregnancies had a higher risk of miscarriage than those who did not. Another study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who experienced IPV during pregnancy had a higher risk of both early and late miscarriage.
The physiological consequences of stress on the body are hypothesized to be connected to the association between IPV and miscarriage. Chronic stress brought on by IPV may result in a hyperactive immune system and an elevated risk of inflammation. Inflammation raises the chance of miscarriage by upsetting the delicate hormonal balance and other biological processes required for a healthy pregnancy.
The Effect of IPV on Maternal Health
In addition to raising the chance of miscarriage, IPV can harm the health of mothers in a variety of other ways. Preterm labor, low birth weight, and preeclampsia are just a few of the issues that pregnant women with IPV are more likely to experience. Additionally, they are more susceptible to mental health problems including anxiety, sadness, and others.
The Long-Term Effects of IPV on Women’s Health
Even after a pregnancy has ended, IPV can still have a negative impact on a woman’s health. Women who have had IPV are more likely to have chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic discomfort. Additionally, they are more prone to struggle with addiction, substance misuse, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Addressing IPV to Lower Miscarriage Rates
It’s critical to address IPV as a public health concern given the close association between it and miscarriage. This entails raising awareness of the connection between IPV and miscarriage and offering tools and support to women who are dealing with IPV. Additionally, it involves supporting healthy relationships and addressing the underlying causes of IPV through educational and intervention programs that seek to prevent IPV before it even occurs.
There needs to be more study and focus on the complex relationship between IPV and miscarriage rates. Understanding the connection between these two problems will help us take action to lessen the incidence of both.
Recognizing the effects of IPV on maternal health is crucial for healthcare professionals, politicians, and the general public, who should also give preventative and intervention initiatives top priority. Routine screening for IPV is the crucial first step to providing care to those who need intervention.
It’s critically important to get treatment if you or someone you know is experiencing IPV. There are resources that can offer support and aid, including hotlines, shelters, and counseling services. Keep in mind that you deserve to be safe and healthy and that IPV is not your fault.
Sources:
Janssen, P. A., Holt, V. L., Sugg, N. K., Emanuel, I., Critchlow, C. M., & Henderson, A. D. (2003). Intimate partner violence and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a population-based study. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 188(5), 1341-1347.
Kulkarni, M. L., Hegde, A. V., & Mahajan, A. (2019). Effect of domestic violence on pregnancy outcome: a hospital-based study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(10), 2112-2124.
Shadigian, E. M., & Bauer, S. T. (2005). Pregnancy-associated death: a qualitative systematic review of homicide and suicide. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, 60(3), 183-190.
World Health Organization. (2013). Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. WHO.
Silverman, J. G., Decker, M. R., Reed, E., & Raj, A. (2006). Intimate partner violence victimization prior to and during pregnancy among women residing in 26 US states: associations with maternal and neonatal health. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 195(1), 140-148.
-Holly