Trying again
After a miscarriage or ectopic or molar pregnancy, you may want to get pregnant again as soon as possible, or you may want to wait a while.
People’s feelings about when – and whether – to try again vary, and we talk about some of those feelings here.
This page looks at some of the facts about trying for another pregnancy after miscarriage. There is more information on other pages about trying again after ectopic pregnancy and after molar pregnancy.
I recently miscarried at 11 weeks. I would dearly love to conceive again but I’m getting conflicting information on how long we should wait.
When can I try to get pregnant again?
You may have had all sorts of advice about how long you should wait before trying again after a miscarriage. The key things to know are:
- It is advised not to have sexual intercourse after miscarriage until all the bleeding has stopped. This is to avoid infection.
- It can be helpful to wait until you have had at least one period after your miscarriage before trying again. This makes it easier to calculate dates in the next pregnancy if you conceive straight away.
- If you conceive before you have a period, it doesn’t make you more likely to miscarry in this new pregnancy. In fact:
- There is good evidence that there is a lower risk of miscarriage in women who conceive within the first 6 months after miscarriage.
- In most cases, the best time to try is when you and your partner feel physically recovered and emotionally ready to embark on another pregnancy.
Are there any reasons I should wait?
There are some circumstances when you will be advised to wait before trying again:
- After a molar pregnancy
- After ectopic pregnancy
- If you are coping with an illness or infection, especially if you are taking any medications that are advised against in pregnancy.
If you have had a late miscarriage or repeated losses, you may want to talk to your GP or specialist before trying to conceive. If you are having investigations you may be advised to wait until those are complete before trying again.
You may find it helpful to read our leaflet Thinking about another pregnancy.