University of Michigan Health System researchers found that occurrences of miscarriage and stillbirth are associated with relationships at high a risk of breakup. 

The study in the journal Pediatrics showed that during a 15-year period, couples who miscarried were 22 percent more likely to break up their relationship.  The risk of relationship breakup was 40 percent higher for those who experienced a stillbirth. 

The elevated risk persisted up to three years after miscarriages and up to nine years after stillbirths, the study found. 

Katherine Gold, MD, lead author of the study and colleagues found the associations after they analyzed information gleaned from data collected through National Survey of Family Growth 2002 Cycle involving 7,770 eligible pregnancies, of which 82 percent resulted in live birth, 16 percent in miscarriage, and 2 percent in stillbirth. 

One explanation for these associations is that miscarriage and stillbirth cause an inordinate amount of stress and grief on couples, and on women in particular; their grief can be more severe and last for a much greater length of time, which can directly affect their relationships. 

Another possibility: miscarriage and stillbirth may be associated with certain lifestyle or health risk factors that may also negatively affect couples' relationships.

By David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton