After miscarriage, how long should couples wait to try again?

A miscarriage is undoubtedly a very unpleasant experience with a strong psychological impact on the couple. The immediate question a woman faces after this difficult experience is: “when can I try to get pregnant again”?

How long should it take between a miscarriage and a new pregnancy?

And while the prevailing theory to date (according to the World Health Organization) has been that a woman should wait at least three months to six months after a miscarriage to try to get pregnant again, a new US scientific study is coming to overturn existing data. Research conducted by the US National Institutes of Health (and published in the Medical Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology) concluded that waiting between two pregnancies is not necessary. On the contrary, trying to conceive straight away increases the chances of pregnancy.

Do we have to wait three months?

The researchers followed six menstrual cycles in a sample of 1,083 women aged 18 to 40 who had already had one to two miscarriages (less than 20 weeks into the pregnancy). They noted the intervals between the date of expulsion and the first arrest attempts that followed, as well as their successes or failures.

What do the surveys say?

Couples who tried to conceive again within three months of miscarriage were more successful than those who waited more than three months (53% vs. 36%) and in less time.

According to the head of the research, Dr. Enrique Schisterman, an epidemiologist at the American Institute of Health, said: “Recommendations for delaying conception for at least 3-6 months for couples who are psychologically ready to try again are probably unfounded and need to be reconsidered. However, we must not forget that any miscarriage must be examined by experts on a case-by-case basis.”

What we should also consider is the emotional state of the couple. After each miscarriage (but also in cases of repeated miscarriages), most doctors recommend that couples make sure they are emotionally ready to face another potential loss before attempting again.