Warning over womb disorder that raises risk of miscarriage.

Millions of women with a painful womb condition should be monitored much more closely in pregnancy because they are at a higher risk of losing their babies, doctors said,

The major study showed that endometriosis, which affects around one in ten women, raises the odds of a host of complications in pregnancy.

These range from miscarriages and premature birth to potentially deadly haemorrhages.

But watching these women more closely could reduce the danger – and save their life and that of their baby.

Endometriosis occurs when cells normally found in the womb lining attach themselves to other parts of the pelvic area, causing scarring, inflammation and pain.

It was known to cause fertility problems, but it had been thought that once a woman did conceive, the condition was unlikely to put her pregnancy at risk.

The analysis of more than 15,000 pregnant women showed that those with endometriosis were 76 per cent more likely to miscarry.

They also had almost triple the chance of suffering an ectopic pregnancy – when the embryo implants outside the womb and the baby is lost.

Women with endometriosis also have a higher risk of complications later in pregnancy such as giving birth prematurely

because endometriosis damages the development of the placenta – the lifeline between mother and unborn child. Doctors suggested women with endometriosis should give birth in hospitals with specialist neonatal units so that expert help is on hand.

Dr Saraswat said: ‘These findings should be used to counsel women with endometriosis and inform them.

‘At the moment, once they are diagnosed with endometriosis, we talk about infertility but we do not talk about what happens once they get pregnant.