If you’ve experienced a miscarriage and are considering trying to conceive again, you likely have questions about timing, emotional readiness, and what to expect. Though pregnancy loss is a deeply personal experience, this guide aims to provide evidence-based information while acknowledging the complex emotions that accompany this process.
When Is It Physically Safe to Try Again?
For many years, conventional medical advice suggested waiting three to six months after a miscarriage before attempting to conceive again. This recommendation was based on giving the body time to physically recover and allowing emotional healing. However, recent research has challenged this notion, suggesting that for most people, there may be no medical reason to wait that long.
The Latest Research on Timing
Current evidence suggests that conceiving within the first six months after a miscarriage may actually be associated with better outcomes than waiting longer. A secondary analysis of data from a large study found that individuals who tried to conceive within three months of a pregnancy loss had the same or possibly even better chances of having a successful pregnancy compared to those who waited longer. Those who attempted conception within three months achieved pregnancy more quickly and had similar live birth rates.
For early miscarriages (before 13 weeks), research indicates that the uterine lining typically regenerates within weeks, and ovulation can resume as soon as two weeks after a loss. This means that many people can physically try to conceive following their first normal menstrual cycle after a miscarriage.
Guidelines from organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) don’t specify a required waiting period for most early pregnancy losses, acknowledging that immediate attempts at conception don’t appear to have negative consequences.
Individual Considerations
While the research is encouraging for those who wish to try again quickly, every situation is unique. Here are some factors that might influence timing:
- Type of loss: Early miscarriages (first trimester) typically require less physical recovery time than later losses
- Complications: If you experienced complications such as infection or heavy bleeding that required treatment, your healthcare provider might recommend waiting until you’ve fully recovered
- Medical recommendations: Some specific situations might warrant waiting, such as after certain types of testing or treatments
- Emotional readiness: This is perhaps the most important factor and varies greatly among individuals and couples
If you experienced a second-trimester loss (between 13-20 weeks), you might benefit from additional recovery time. Some healthcare providers recommend waiting until you’ve had at least one normal menstrual cycle before trying again in these cases.
For recurrent pregnancy loss (defined as two or more failed clinical pregnancies), your healthcare provider might suggest additional testing before attempting conception again.
Return of Menstruation and Ovulation
After a miscarriage, the body typically needs time to reset hormonally before regular cycles resume. Most people will have their first period within 4-6 weeks after a pregnancy loss, though this timeframe can vary considerably. For some, it may occur as soon as 2 weeks after, while others might wait 2 months or longer, particularly after later losses.
A central determinant of how long it takes for menstruation to resume is how high your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels—the pregnancy hormone—reached before the loss. The body doesn’t begin preparing an egg for ovulation until hCG levels return to a non-pregnant state (generally below 5 mIU/mL). If your pregnancy progressed further before the loss occurred, hCG levels were likely higher, and it may take longer for these levels to decrease sufficiently for your menstrual cycle to resume. This is why losses that occur later in pregnancy often result in a longer wait for the first period.
Importantly, ovulation usually occurs before this first period—often about two weeks prior to menstruation. This means many people ovulate approximately 2-4 weeks after a miscarriage, sometimes before they realize their fertility has returned. This early ovulation explains why some people conceive again before having their first post-miscarriage period. The first few cycles after loss might be irregular in timing or flow, which is normal as the body adjusts.
The Emotional Journey of Trying Again
The decision to try to conceive after a pregnancy loss often comes with complex emotions. Many people describe feeling both hopeful and fearful – wanting to move forward while still grieving their loss.
Grief Has No Timeline
There is no “correct” amount of time to grieve a pregnancy loss. Some people feel ready to try again immediately, while others need months or even years. Neither approach is wrong. What matters most is honoring your own emotional process.
Grief can also be unpredictable. You might feel relatively well one day, then be overwhelmed by sadness the next. These fluctuations are normal and don’t necessarily mean you aren’t “ready” to try again.
Anxiety During Subsequent Pregnancies
Research shows that anxiety and fear are common during pregnancies that follow a loss. Many people report being hypervigilant about symptoms and feeling unable to enjoy the pregnancy until they’ve passed the point at which they experienced their previous loss.
This anxiety is completely normal. Some strategies that might help include:
- Finding a supportive healthcare provider who understands your history and concerns
- Considering therapy or counseling specifically for pregnancy-related anxiety
- Engaging with support groups such as our Together Through Loss Chat
- Watching and experimenting with the mindfulness techniques in Pearls of WellBeing to help manage anxiety and worries
- Being open with trusted loved ones about your feelings
When Partners Process Differently
It’s common for partners to experience grief differently after pregnancy loss. One person might want to try again immediately, while the other needs more time. These differences can create tension during an already difficult time.
Open communication about feelings and expectations is crucial. Some couples find that speaking with a counselor helps them navigate these differences with greater understanding and compassion.
Preparing for Another Pregnancy
If you’re considering trying to conceive after a miscarriage, there are several steps you can take to prepare both physically and emotionally.
Physical Preparation
- Follow up with healthcare: Complete any recommended follow-up appointments and discuss any concerns with your provider
- Consider preconception care: Some providers recommend a preconception visit to review medications, supplements, and health conditions
- Focus on general health: Maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can support fertility and pregnancy
- Take prenatal vitamins: Continue or start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid
Emotional Preparation
- Connect with Support
- Friends & Family: pregnancy loss is unfortunately very common and it is likely that someone you love has also gone through a pregnancy loss. Sharing your experience, fears, and worries with someone you can trust to bring empathy and kindness to your interactions can be very healing.
- Healthcare providers: Obstetricians, reproductive endocrinologists, and midwives can provide medical guidance
- Mental health professionals: Therapists specializing in perinatal and maternal mental health can offer valuable support
- Sterling Parents Community: connect with others, especially in the Together Through Loss Chat, going through the same and who understand your experience
- Set boundaries: Decide how and with whom you’ll share your journey
- Develop coping strategies: Use the mindfulness practices taught in the Pearls of WellBeing, journaling, or other stress-management techniques such as exercise
- Connect with others: Support groups (online or in-person) can provide understanding from others who have had similar experiences
Special Considerations for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
If you’ve experienced multiple pregnancy losses (defined as two or more by some medical authorities), your healthcare provider might recommend additional testing or treatments before trying again. To learn more read Deep Dive Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Testing, Treatment, and Hope
Final Thoughts
There is no single “right way” to approach conception after pregnancy loss. The timing and approach that works best will depend on your individual circumstances, medical history, and emotional readiness.
Be gentle with yourself throughout this journey. Allow space for both grief and hope. Remember that experiencing anxiety or sadness doesn’t mean you’re not ready to try again—these emotions often continue even during subsequent successful pregnancies.
Whatever you decide about timing and whatever emotions arise along the way, your feelings are valid. Trust yourself to know what’s best for your body, mind, and heart as you move forward.
Sources:
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Naimi AI, Perkins NJ, Sjaarda LA, et al. The Effect of Preconception-Initiated Low-Dose Aspirin on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Detected Pregnancy, Pregnancy Loss, and Live Birth. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2021.
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 200: Early Pregnancy Loss. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2018.
Lund M, Kamper-Jørgensen M, Nielsen HS, et al. Prognosis for live birth in women with recurrent miscarriage: what is the best measure of success? Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2012.
Magnus MC, Wilcox AJ, Morken NH, et al. Role of maternal age and pregnancy history in risk of miscarriage: prospective register based study. BMJ, 2019.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Evaluation and treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 2012.
ESHRE Guideline Group on RPL, Bender Atik R, Christiansen OB, et al. ESHRE guideline: recurrent pregnancy loss. Human Reproduction Open, 2018.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management. NICE guideline, 2019.
Coomarasamy A, Devall AJ, Cheed V, et al. A Randomized Trial of Progesterone in Women with Bleeding in Early Pregnancy. New England Journal of Medicine, 2019.
Schreiber CA, Creinin MD, Atrio J, et al. Mifepristone Pretreatment for the Medical Management of Early Pregnancy Loss. New England Journal of Medicine, 2018.