Miscarriages aren't uncommon — in fact, roughly one-quarter of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, including about 10% of pregnancies confirmed by a doctor. While many women worry having a miscarriage means they'll have difficulty with future pregnancies, most miscarriages are one-time events, with no impact on a woman's ability to have a successful pregnancy in the future.
The next question is, how soon should you become pregnant after having a miscarriage? Is it OK to get pregnant right away, or should you wait? And if waiting is preferred, how long should you wait before trying to conceive?
As a leading OB/GYN in Phoenix, Arizona, DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc, FACOG, helps women at Desert Star Institute for Family Planning recover following miscarriage, offering patient-centered, compassionate care to restore women's health and confidence. If you’ve had a miscarriage, here’s what she wants you to know about timing pregnancy after miscarriage.
Many women believe miscarriage means they'll have difficulty getting pregnant again or it will be a long time before they'll be able to conceive, but that's not the case. You can get pregnant almost immediately after having a miscarriage — typically within about two weeks.
In fact, in most cases, two weeks is about the time it takes your body to heal. Dr. Taylor and other experts recommend avoiding sexual intercourse for the first two weeks following a miscarriage to reduce the risk of infection.
Of course, just because you can get pregnant shortly after a miscarriage, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice. Instead, it's essential to look at what timing is recommended for your health and the health of the baby you'll be carrying.
While your body may be ready for pregnancy shortly after a miscarriage, there's no denying that losing a baby can have a major emotional impact. Before trying to have a baby, you and your partner need to take time to process your loss.
Remember: Being pregnant causes hormonal changes that affect your emotions and moods. If you haven't fully recovered from your miscarriage, you may find these changes harder to deal with.
The time following your miscarriage is also a good time to meet with Dr. Taylor and discuss steps you can take to make sure you’re ready for pregnancy. If you have risk factors for pregnancy complications, like high blood pressure or diabetes, Dr. Taylor can help you use this time to improve your health and set the stage for a healthy pregnancy, too.
If you’ve had more than one miscarriage, Dr. Taylor may recommend testing to determine if your miscarriages are due to an underlying medical issue. Finally, if you want to take some time before your next pregnancy, Dr. Taylor can help you find a birth control method that works for your lifestyle and your pregnancy goals.
Bottom line: It's perfectly OK to get pregnant within a few weeks of a miscarriage as long as you're physically healthy and emotionally ready. Meeting with Dr. Taylor can help you assess your goals and readiness to help you feel confident about your plans.
To learn more about post-miscarriage care or start planning your next pregnancy, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Taylor and the Desert Star Family Planning team in Phoenix, Arizona today.
