A test which could predict miscarriages could be on the horizon after scientists discovered a protein which helps babies stick to the womb.

Scientists at the University of Sheffield found that Syncytin-1 plays a central role in the helping a foetus attach and letting the mother know that it is there.

The discovery will help doctors understand the earliest stages of human embryo development and could shed light on complications during pregnancy such as recurrent miscarriages, foetal growth restriction syndrome and pre-eclampsia.

It is hoped that monitoring levels of Syncytin-1 could give doctors an early indication about whether an embryo will successfully implant.

Professor Harry Moore, Co-Director for the University’s Centre for Stem Cell Biology and lead author of the study, said: “Recurrent miscarriages, foetal growth restriction syndrome and pre-eclampsia are all significant and very stressful complications of pregnancy.

“Eventually we may be able to develop blood tests based on our results to identify pregnancies that might be at risk and also develop appropriate therapies.

“There is a lot on the news about the Zika virus infection at the moment and its devastating effects on foetal development but not all viral infections are necessarily as disastrous."

Researchers will now investigate whether the level of Syncytin-1 secretion on the pre-implantation embryo is somehow related to outcome of pregnancy in women undergoing IVF.

“Until now we didn’t know this protein was expressed so early in the embryo,” added Prof Moore.

resource: telegraph