An estrogen receptor genetic polymorphism and the risk of primary and secondary recurrent spontaneous abortion

Possessing a variant estrogen receptor gene may not predispose women to miscarriage. Blood samples were taken from 60 women who had had at least two miscarriages and no live births, 61 women with at least two miscarriages and one or more live births, and 43 women with at least two live births and no abortions. DNA was extracted from white blood cells and analyzed for the sequence of the estrogen receptor gene. Women were also interviewed about their and their families' gynecologic, obstetric, and medical histories. Possession of the variant gene failed to correlate with recurrent miscarriage. However, data suggested an association between recurrent miscarriage and family history of recurrent miscarriage and between possession of the variant gene and family history of breast cancer.