New Womb Lining Test Offers Hope to Women Facing Miscarriage

A team of UK scientists has developed a groundbreaking test that could identify abnormalities in the womb lining—offering new hope to women who suffer repeated miscarriages.

Researchers at the University of Warwick say the test can detect when the womb lining fails to transform into a supportive environment for embryo implantation, a factor that may significantly increase the risk of pregnancy loss.

A Missing Piece in Miscarriage Research

Recurrent miscarriage is a traumatic experience that affects thousands, yet many women are left without clear answers. While much of the existing research has focused on the quality of the embryo, the role of the womb lining—known as the endometrium—has remained largely under-explored.

Dr Jo Muter, a researcher at Warwick Medical School and lead author of the study, said:

"Many women are told they've just had 'bad luck,' but our findings suggest the womb may be playing a critical role in pregnancy loss—before conception even occurs."

Normally, the womb lining undergoes a transformation that prepares it to receive and support an embryo. When this change doesn’t happen properly, the risk of early miscarriage and bleeding increases. Worse still, women who experience one faulty reaction are more likely to have another in future pregnancies.

How the Test Works

The new test measures specific biological markers in the womb lining that indicate whether this crucial transformation has occurred. It’s currently being piloted with more than 1,000 patients at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW).

A Life-Changing Trial

One of those patients is Charlie Beattie, 37, from Leamington Spa. After enduring multiple early miscarriages over four years, Charlie and her husband Sam felt heartbroken and began exploring other ways to start a family.

That changed when Charlie joined the clinical trial. A biopsy revealed that her womb lining was not “hospitable” to embryos. She was prescribed sitagliptin, a drug typically used for diabetes, which she took for three months. The result? A successful pregnancy—and the arrival of her now nine-week-old daughter, June.

"She’s a tiny miracle. It doesn’t feel real," Charlie said."Even scans were new to us—we’d never seen a baby move before. When they told us, ‘It’s in the right place,’ we both burst into tears."

Looking Ahead

Although anyone can refer themselves to the clinic, demand is high and funding is limited. Currently, patients must help cover the cost of the test.

Dr Jyotsna Vohra, Director of Research at Tommy’s, said the availability of miscarriage care remains inconsistent across the UK.

"There should be no barriers to accessing any test or treatment that has been shown to make a difference," she said."We urge NHS leaders to evaluate the Coventry pilot and consider rolling out this test nationwide."

Dr Muter added that future plans include using the test to explore other potential treatments. Sitagliptin is a promising option, but there may be additional existing medications that can be repurposed.

With approximately 80% of drugs never tested on pregnant women, researchers hope this innovation will be a first step toward better, evidence-based treatment options for those affected by pregnancy loss.

Find out more: https://www.tommys.org/