Women's Bodies as Battlegrounds: War, Fertility & Early Pregnancy Loss the Globe Over - with Dr. Nadia Amokrane

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, bleeding/haemorrhage, pregnancy trauma, conflict zones, maternal and neonatal death, and sexual violence in war.

Nat and Somaya are joined by Dr Nadia Amokrane for a wide-ranging and essential conversation about early pregnancy loss and global maternal health.

The conversation starts with the devastating impact conflict has on women’s health. Dr Amokrane describes how maternal healthcare systems can collapse rapidly during war: antenatal care becomes inaccessible, staff and theatres are diverted to trauma, and shortages of food, water, medicine, and equipment drive worsening outcomes for mothers and newborns.

She also discusses longer-term health consequences for babies exposed to severe stress and malnutrition in utero, and why advocacy for maternal health cannot be separated from advocacy for children.

The conversation then expands to early pregnancy complications. Dr Amokrane explains how common miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy are, what “recurrent miscarriage” means, and why NHS pathways for investigation and follow-up can vary by area — even as services begin to shift toward earlier support after two losses.

She also breaks down miscarriage management options (expectant, medical, surgical), and why bleeding can sometimes become dangerous even in early pregnancy. This episode is both a practical guide to early pregnancy care and a call to pay attention to the global realities facing mothers.

Topics Covered

• Maternal health in conflict zones: collapse of services, malnutrition, neonatal impact
• Why maternal health advocacy can’t be optional
• How common miscarriage is (and what “early miscarriage” means)
• Ectopic pregnancy: frequency, risk factors, why diagnosis matters
• When losses suggest “bad luck” vs an underlying issue
• Recurrent miscarriage definitions and why NHS pathways vary
• Miscarriage management options: expectant, medical, surgical
• Why early pregnancy units matter and what good care looks like
• Pre-conception steps that can reduce miscarriage risk (where evidence exists)

Resources Mentioned (Signposting)

• The Miscarriage Association (support + information) https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
• The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust (support + information) https://ectopic.org.uk/

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About King’s Fertility (Sponsor):

One of London’s most respected IVF clinics, working with King’s College Hospital and King’s College London. King’s Fertility offers NHS and private patients world-leading research, advanced treatment, and compassionate care. Learn more at kingsfertility.co.uk


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