Ask the Expert 2025
Ashley Cook, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
California IVF Fertility Center
Ashley is a board-certified nurse practitioner with over 12 years of experience working in reproductive health and infertility. She began her fertility career as a registered nurse and later returned to graduate school to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). Passionate about delivering compassionate, patient-centered care, Ashley remains active in the fertility community through her involvement with professional organizations and regularly attends conferences to stay at the forefront of evidence-based practice.
What is recurrent pregnancy loss?
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is typically defined as having two or more miscarriages prior to 20 weeks’ gestation, excluding molar or ectopic pregnancies. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as genetic issues, hormonal imbalances or structural problems in the uterus. On average, 50-60% of early pregnancy losses are due to chromosomal abnormalities.
How do you help couples struggling with recurrent pregnancy loss?
Through detailed testing and evaluation, a fertility specialist can work with couples in a supportive environment to help identify or rule out potential causes. An individualized plan can be developed and may include lifestyle changes, treatments or genetic testing to improve the chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
What is preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)?
PGT is a lab procedure used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to check embryos for genetic conditions or chromosomal issues before they are transferred to the uterus for pregnancy. This helps to identify the healthiest embryos, which may improve the chances of a successful pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage for those individuals with a history of genetic conditions, recurrent pregnancy loss, or previous unsuccessful IVF cycles.
2590 Venture Oaks Wy. Sacramento. 916-979-5599. californiaivf.com
