It is actually difficult to determine if you may be more fertile after having a miscarriage. After a miscarriage, each situation is different and each woman's fertility will be affected differently as well.
Are You More Fertile After Miscarriage?
If you have recently experienced a miscarriage, you may question when the best time would be to try to conceive again. There is the belief that fertility increases after a miscarriage and this may prompt some women to want to try to conceive right away. However, there is conflicting information and you should discuss your options with your doctor before trying for pregnancy after a recent miscarriage.
When You May Be Most Fertile
A woman may be more fertile during the month or two immediately following a miscarriage. One possible reason may be that the progesterone levels are still high from the miscarriage. However, this has not been scientifically proven.
Ovulation and Your Period
Keep in mind, that you can ovulate and get pregnant as soon as two weeks after an early miscarriage. You can still ovulate even if you don't get your period. However, it is recommended that you wait until after you have your first normal menstrual period before trying for pregnancy. This will also make it easier to accurately determine your due date.
Recent Studies
There are recent studies that have found that there were no risks involved if you conceived within three months after a miscarriage:
- A 2016 study found that women actually had a better chance of achieving pregnancy and giving birth if they tried to conceive within three months of a miscarriage.
- A study published in 2017 also showed that if a pregnancy occurred in less than three months after a miscarriage, there is a decreased chance of having another miscarriage. This, in turn, indicates that there may be no need to wait to conceive as many doctors typically advise.
Statistics
The following are statistics on miscarriages:
- Approximately 85% of women who had one miscarriage will have a healthy pregnancy the next time.
- Approximately 75% of women who miscarried two or three times will have a healthy pregnancy.
- Repeat miscarriages are actually very rare and happen in only one percent of women. However, if you do experience repeat miscarriages, your doctor will recommend further testing be performed that can help determine a possible cause.
Why You Should Wait to Try to Conceive
Many doctors still recommend that you wait at least three to six months after a miscarriage to try again for pregnancy. This includes a miscarriage that happened naturally or by medical intervention. The reasons for this include:
- Your endometrial lining needs time to repair and heal in order to be ready for the implantation of a future fertilized egg.
- You may want to wait until your hcg levels come down and your periods return to normal.
- Emotionally, you may want to give yourself time to grieve the loss.
Your doctor will usually advise how long you should wait to try for pregnancy based on how far along you were when the miscarriage occurred. If the miscarriage was very early in the pregnancy, you may not have to wait as long. However, if you were further along in the pregnancy, you may need more time to heal.
What Birth Control Is Best?
If you do not want to get pregnant after a miscarriage and are looking for long term protection, you can use any type of birth control such as birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. An IUD can even be inserted immediately after a miscarriage. However, if you are looking for temporary birth control because you do want to try for pregnancy in a few months but simply aren't ready right now, you should use barrier methods with spermicide such as condoms, female condoms, diaphragm or the sponge.
Take the Time You Need
It is unclear if you may be more fertile after a miscarriage. Regardless, you should only try for pregnancy when you are ready. While it may be considered safe physically to try to get pregnant after a miscarriage, you should still be cautious and make sure that you are ready emotionally as well.
