[Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here.]
[Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or medical practitioner. Any medical information is strictly my opinion based on research and personal experience, and not to be taken as advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed physician for your medical needs. Read my full disclaimer here.]
After my miscarriage, one of the most frustrating things I heard people say was: “Everyone gets pregnant right away again after miscarriage! You’re more fertile right after miscarriage!”
This wasn’t frustrating so much because I didn’t want to be pregnant again right away (I did — I know everyone is different, but after feeling like I had already mourned this pregnancy multiple times, I was ready), but because I had a feeling they probably had no idea what they were talking about.
They’d heard this, or heard stories of it happening. I’ve heard stories like that too, but I’ve heard plenty of stories the other way too. I met a couple who got pregnant immediately after first trying, miscarried, and still are not pregnant, two years later.
So I decided to investigate: Are you really more likely to get pregnant right away after a miscarriage?
The Medical Research
—This 2016 study found that couples were more likely to conceive quicker if they tried to get pregnant between 0-3 months after miscarriage (68.6%) versus couples who waited 3 months to begin trying again (51.1%). No complications were associated with trying 0-3 months after miscarriage. They conclude: “In the present study we demonstrate that women who begin trying to achieve pregnancy within 3 months have just as fast, if not faster, time to pregnancy leading to a live birth, with no risk of pregnancy complications, as women who wait until after 3 months to start trying.”
—This 2003 study — although confusing to read — also concluded that women were more fertile following miscarriage.
–My conclusion? People may be right when they say you are more fertile after miscarriage. However, there really aren’t many studies on it (I could find these two), and the difference in fertility after miscarriage vs. “normal fertility” does not seem to be super significant. The majority of studies seek to investigate whether there are increased risks of getting pregnant quickly after miscarriage (see below).
Why do some doctors recommend waiting after miscarriage?
–There is one major (older) study (found here) that gives evidence that getting pregnant in fewer than 6 months after miscarriage is associated with complications. This prompted the World Health Organization to recommend waiting 6 months after miscarriage before trying again. Many doctors in the United States now recommend waiting 3 months for reasons explained below.
–Since then, other studies have proved the exact opposite (like this one). Overall, the most recent and biggest studies (like this one) have come to the conclusion that women who conceive within 6 months are actually at risk of fewer complications. This study found that women who conceive within 3 months are at risk of even fewer complications.
Given my research, I find it interesting that many doctors still recommend waiting 3 months. There seem to be more studies than not that suggest the opposite. (However, bear in mind that personal health, surgery following miscarriage, HCG levels, etc. may have an effect on when it is healthy for you personally to start trying again. Ask your doctor first.)
Personally, even though I had no complications or surgery following my miscarriage, my doctor still recommended waiting one cycle. She said she actually typically recommends waiting two cycles to allow for emotional healing after miscarriage.
However, since I told her we were ready emotionally, she said she would still recommend waiting 1 cycle. Many doctors recommend this to help date the pregnancy. My doctor said she wanted to give my uterine lining a chance to reset. However, she did admit that this was more of a personal theory. In the end, she acknowledged that there was no increased risk, and that we could ultimately do whatever we wanted.
Even the Mayo Clinic mentions that there may be no need to wait depending on your individual situation.
Takeaways
First, I of course have to recommend that you ask your doctor what he or she recommends. For instance, one thing that was important in my situation (I think since I had a spontaneous miscarriage) was monitoring my HCG levels to ensure that I had a complete miscarriage before trying again. That said, no matter what your doctor recommends, ask why. Perhaps a surgery (or lack of one, like my miscarriage) or health history do warrant a need to wait. (Or maybe your doctor is more concerned about your emotional well-being or dating your next pregnancy…in which case, that is more up to you.)
Second, if you aren’t ready to emotionally try for pregnancy right away, don’t push it. Based on the research, there really wasn’t a big discrepancy in fertility if you decide to wait a few more months. In the end, you have to decide what is best for your own health.
