First ever Australian data reveals miscarriage more widespread than thought, strengthens case for action

Please note that this press release is in response to a media release issued by the AIHW.

The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (the representative peak body for organisations working in the miscarriage space) welcomes a new dataset from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) which – for the first time in Australian history – gives official data insights into early pregnancy loss in this country.

According to an indicative data scoping study by the AIHW, data from five states and territories show that three in 10 women (30 per cent) who gave birth in 2022 had previously experienced at least one miscarriage and one in 10 women (10 per cent) had experienced two or more miscarriages with proportions remaining stable since 2017.

It should also be noted that this data only includes women who later give birth (and not women who have not given birth) and therefore the true rate is likely to be higher.

This confirms suggestions from previous research (such as the Jean Hailes National Women's Health Survey) that the rate of miscarriage is substantially higher than “traditional” estimates of 20 to 25 per cent.

Miscarriage-related hospital admissions ranged between 34,000 and 37,400 per year from 2019/20 and 2024/25.

“The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition called for this data scoping study in its 2024/25 budget submission and its recommendations were taken up by a government willing to partner with the sector,” says EPLC Executive Director and Co-Founder Isabelle Oderberg.

“These numbers now confirm what the EPLC and its members always contended: miscarriage rates are far higher than previously estimated and represent significant hospital admission numbers.

"We thank the federal government for agreeing to undertake this work, and the AIHW team, led by Deanna Eldridge, for executing this incredibly complex project.”

“The picture is now clearer and we hope it can better inform public health policy on miscarriage, a highly complex and vastly misunderstood pregnancy complication that affects up to 150,000 Australian families each year – for many, more than once.

“As someone who lost seven pregnancies of my own and has lived with the grief of those losses, this progress is truly heartening. We also note the federally funded national miscarriage awareness campaign launched last week – Miscarriage Matters – another project requested by the EPLC in its budget submission in 2024/25.

“But the initial package to fund this work, the first dedicated miscarriage funding in a federal budget, made two years ago, was a ‘down payment’ on the further urgent work needed in the space and is long overdue.

“We invite the federal government to work with us to plan next steps for this space in the context of this clearly identified need and bring to fruition the improvements in care that are so desperately needed, starting with a Priority Setting Partnership to allow those with lived experience to lead the identification of gaps in medical research and understanding, a language-change initiative and media guide for correct and accurate depictions of miscarriage.”

The EPLC is also concerned that more insight is required on the data showing surgical management of miscarriage has halved during the period.

Best practice management of miscarriage is a choice of three options: surgical management (dilation and curettage), medical management (medication to evacuate the uterus) and expectant management (wait and see).

Anecdotally, many patients report that despite choosing surgical management, they are unable to access these services, whether due to no provision of services, inadequate hospital resourcing, contentious objection or geographic limitations, particularly in regional and rural areas.

It is therefore crucial that we identify the drivers behind this reduction.

The EPLC supports all four of the AIHW report recommendations; further work on the dataset, a national self-reporting register for miscarriage, a National Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey and a Healthcare Provider Workforce Survey.

ENDS/

For more information or interviews please contact EPLC Executive Director and Co-Founder Isabelle Oderberg on oderbergi@eplc.au.
 

About the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC) 

The Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition (EPLC) is Australia's national representative peak body for early pregnancy loss. Founded in 2023, the EPLC brings together organisations working across the miscarriage space to improve the care, support and recognition provided to people and families affected by miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. The EPLC is a registered charity and is guided by an expert advisory group.

Through evidence-informed policy, collaboration and advocacy, the EPLC works to ensure every person experiencing early pregnancy loss receives compassionate, equitable and high-quality care, regardless of where they live.

The EPLC's organisational members are:

•  Australian College of Midwives

•  Australian College of Nurse Practitioners

•  Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation

•  Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine

•  Australian Women's Health Alliance

•  Bears of Hope

•  Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE)

•  Doctors for the Environment Australia

•  Early Pregnancy Network Victoria

•  Jean Hailes for Women's Health

•  Miscarriage Australia

•  Miscarriage Information Support Service (M.I.S.S.)

•  MSI Australia

•  Multicultural Centre for Women's Health

•  Mums Matter Psychology

•  PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)

•  Pink Elephants Support Network

•  Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)

•  Red Nose

•  SMS4Dads

•  The Still Nest

•  Women's Health Victoria

•  Women's Healthcare Australasia