Updated November 25, 2014.

Question: Will Getting Pregnant Again Right After Miscarriage Cause Another Miscarriage?

Doctors often advise women to wait a few months before getting pregnant again after a miscarriage, but will getting pregnant sooner increase the risk of a repeat miscarriage?

Answer:

There doesn't seem to be any reliable evidence to indicate that there's any increased risk in getting pregnant again right after miscarriage.


Physicians commonly recommend waiting one to three months before trying for a new pregnancy, but often this is just a standard precaution "to be on the safe side" rather than a recommendation based in solid evidence.

Of the evidence that does exist, a June 2002 study in the U.S. looked at 64 pregnancies after miscarriage and found no evidence of pregnancy complications in those who conceived immediately vs. those who waited two cycles. In addition, a March 2003 study found evidence that women might have increased fertility in the cycle immediately after a miscarriage.

On the side of advising a wait, a 2005 Israeli study found that women who had miscarried faced a high risk of having a subsequent pregnancy affected by neural tube defects or congenital heart defects. The study authors recommended delaying conception after miscarriage and treating with folic acid during the wait. However, it's possible that the findings may not apply to women whose diet already included adequate folic acid and supplements prior to the miscarriage.

It also makes sense to assume that if a woman miscarries due to a medical condition or in the presence of a modifiable risk factor that getting pregnant immediately without addressing that condition might increase the risk of another miscarriage.

That aside, for women without underlying medical issues and who eat healthy, balanced diets, it's possible that there's no increased risk in getting pregnant again right away. Obviously, if your doctor does advise you to wait, there may be a specific reason -- but don't be afraid to ask questions. Many women find the process of coping with miscarriage to be more difficult when they have to wait before trying to get pregnant again, so if this applies to your situation, it is perfectly okay to have a conversation about the reasons behind the recommendation.

<sub>Sources:

Carmi, R., J. Gohar, I. Meizner, and M. Katz, "Spontaneous abortion-high risk factor for neural tube defects in subsequent pregnancy." American Journal of Medical Genetics Jun 2005. Accessed 22 Jul 2008.

Goldstein, Rachel R. Pruyn, Mary S. Croughan, and Patricia S. Robertson, "Neonatal outcomes in immediate versus delayed conceptions after spontaneous abortion: A retrospective case series." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002. Accessed 22 Jul 2008.

Wang, Xiaobin, Changzhong Chen, Lihua Wang, Dafang Chen, Wenwei Guang, and Jonathan French, "Conception, early pregnancy loss, and time to clinical pregnancy: a population-based prospective study." Fertility and Sterility 2003. Accessed 22 Jul 2008.</sub>