Quick Tip: Trying Again After a Miscarriage: Wait or Go For It?

We may earn a commission from affiliate links on this page.

When Can You Start Trying Again After a Loss?

Do you NEED to wait even if you’re physically and emotionally ready to try again?⁣⁣

This is a subject that comes up a lot. Some doctors advise you to wait for a few cycles while others tell you to try again whenever you feel ready. The World Health Organization (WHO) even recommends waiting for 6-months before trying again. But there seems to be little to no hard evidence supporting this claim (in developed countries).⁣⁣

What does the science say?⁣⁣

Researchers from the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development set out to find out whether you really need to wait before trying again.⁣⁣

998 women with a previous (non-ectopic/non-molar) loss participated in the study.⁣⁣

Women who started TTC again within 3 months of a pregnancy loss were more likely to become pregnant within 6 months (68.6%) of trying, than women who waited longer than 3 months (51.1%).⁣⁣

And more importantly, the live birth rate was significantly higher as well (53.2% for those who waited 0-3 months and 36.1% for those who waited longer).⁣⁣

The researchers also found that trying sooner did NOT mean there was an increased risk of complications (such as miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia).⁣⁣

That being said, every loss is different. The way we handle loss is different. There’s no right or wrong time when it comes to when YOU are personally ready for it.

You can’t rush the process of grieving.⁣⁣

But, when you’re emotionally ready and your doctor agrees that you’re physically ready, there is no (physiologic) reason to wait!

 

Reference:

Schliep et al. 2018. Trying to Conceive After an Early Pregnancy Loss. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127(2), 204-212. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001159.

Scroll to Top