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Suffering a miscarriage is traumatic for everyone involved, especially the mother. While couples are often advised to wait three months or longer before trying to conceive again, or are worried about further attempts, new research suggests women trying again within three months have a greater likelihood of falling pregnant and delivering a live baby.
The study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology looked at 1,083 females - many of whom had miscarried before 20 weeks and hadn't suffered any pregnancy complications, such as the growth of abnormal foetal tissue in the uterus. The ladies were followed for six menstrual cycles, and were part of a large trial that started in 2007 and ended in 2011. Those who fell pregnant during that time were followed until their pregnancy outcome was confirmed.
Over 76 per cent of the woman tried to get pregnant again within three months of their miscarriage and compared to those who waited longer, the ladies who began trying again straight away were more likely to get pregnant. Almost 70 per cent of the women who tried to conceive within three months fell pregnant, compared to 51 per cent of the females who waited longer.
Also, 53 per cent of those who didn't wait were found to have a live birth, and complications didn't differ between the two groups.
“Recommendations to delay pregnancy attempts for at least 3–6 months among couples who are psychologically ready to begin trying may be unwarranted and should be revisited,” the authors of the study note.
“Although emotional compared with physical readiness may require individual couple assessment, previous research has found that a speedy new pregnancy and birth of a living child lessens grief among couples who are suffering from a pregnancy loss.”
While the findings are interesting, they may not be completely precise, as women self-reported their situation, which means the dates might not be completely accurate.
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