After a miscarriage, one of the most common questions is: When can we try again? Some people hear they should wait several months, while others are told it’s fine to start right away. The truth is, recent research shows that for most people, it’s safe to try as soon as you feel ready, physically and emotionally. This guide explains the latest findings, what major health bodies recommend, and practical ways to prepare for a future pregnancy after miscarriage.
My Story: The Question I Couldn’t Stop Asking
After my miscarriage, one question lingered in my mind: When can we try again? I heard conflicting advice – doctors saying one thing, online forums saying another, various articles giving different recommendations. I wanted a clear answer, but also needed reassurance that my body was ready and that I was emotionally prepared.
Having a miscarriage is so tough. Getting pregnant after miscarriage can truly be a difficult journey, filled with mixed feelings and worries.
Quick Answer: How Soon Can You Try Again?
- Medical research: Large studies show no medical need to delay; in many cases, trying again within 3–6 months is associated with higher live-birth rates compared with waiting longer.
- Guidelines today: Many experts advise that you can try again once you’ve had one normal period, unless your doctor recommends otherwise for specific medical reasons.
- Emotional readiness: Your mental well-being matters as much as the data. It’s totally okay to wait until you feel ready.
Personal note: I waited for my first period and a bit beyond that – not because my body needed it, but because it helped me feel “reset” and more at peace heading into the next try. But honestly, one part of me was also thrilled to know that I could actually get pregnant at all!
What the Medical Research Really Says About Timing
The 2010 BMJ Study
One of the largest studies on this topic (Scotland; 30,000+ women) found that conceiving within six months after miscarriage was linked to higher live-birth rates and lower risks of ectopic pregnancy and another miscarriage, compared with waiting longer. A possible reason is a window of optimal fertility before the body fully reverts to pre-pregnancy hormonal patterns.
The 2016 NIH EAGeR Study (Schliep et al.)
A prospective U.S. study in Obstetrics & Gynecology followed 1,083 women (18–40) after one or two early losses:
- Trying again within three months led to more live births (53% vs. 36% when waiting longer) and faster conception, without higher complication risks.
- Women who waited more than 12 months to try again had significantly lower fecundability (chance of conceiving in a given month or cycle), even after accounting for factors such as previous subfertility.
- Conclusion: The researchers found no medical advantage to delaying conception after an uncomplicated early miscarriage, and suggested the traditional advice to wait at least three (or even six!) months may be unwarranted for healthy women.
(Schliep KC, Mitchell EM, Mumford SL, Radin RG, Zarek SM, Sjaarda L, Schisterman EF. 2016.)
World Health Organization (WHO) Guidance
A 2005 WHO report suggested waiting ≥6 months, primarily to address nutritional recovery and infection risks in low-resource settings. This older guidance doesn’t always apply in high-resource settings where recovery is quicker.
Bottom line from research:
- There’s no universal waiting rule.
- High-quality studies show no harm and possible benefits to conceiving soon after an early loss if there were no complications.
- Follow your doctor’s guidance based on your personal medical history (but indeed ask questions if they seem to base their advice on older recommendations and research).
Practical Considerations Before Trying Again
1) Physical recovery
- After an early miscarriage, bleeding usually lasts 1–2 weeks.
- Ovulation can return ~2 weeks after the loss; a period may arrive 4–6 weeks later.
- If you had a dilation and curettage (D&C) — a short surgical procedure to remove tissue from the uterus — or experienced severe bleeding, infection, or anemia, your doctor may advise a short healing interval.
2) Emotional healing
- Grief can come in waves, and you may feel sadness, anger, anxiety, and hope.
- It’s okay if you and your partner need different amounts of time.
- Consider counseling or a support group if worry feels overwhelming.
3) Underlying medical issues
- After two or more consecutive losses, ask about evaluation (thyroid, uterine anatomy, clotting, genetics).
- Addressing modifiable factors now can support a future pregnancy.
Many couples may have been told that they are at an increased risk of miscarriage if they have already had one loss. However, this is generally not true. Over 85% of women who have one miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy the second time around. Those who have experienced two to three losses have a 75% chance of having a healthy baby the next time they get pregnant.
Tips for Preparing Your Body for Conception
- Prenatal vitamin with folic acid (start now; 400–800 mcg unless otherwise directed).
- Healthy weight range (being under- or over-weight can affect fertility).
- Avoid smoking and high alcohol intake.
- A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and iron-rich foods, especially if you had blood loss.
- Gentle movement (walking, yoga) to support mood and circulation.
- Track cycles (apps, ovulation tests, or cervical mucus) if it helps you feel informed.
Coping with Anxiety While Trying Again
- Set small milestones: positive test, first scan, passing week 12.
- Create a scan plan with your clinician (e.g., reassurance ultrasound around week 8-9).
- Limit late-night symptom googling (hard, but sanity-saving).
- Try simple stress-relief routines: breathwork, journaling, short walks, and screens-off evenings.
- Lean on peer support: hearing success stories after loss can help. Check out the comments section below this article, too!
When to Seek Medical Advice Before Trying Again
(Based on guidance from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), National Health Service (NHS), and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
- Two or more consecutive miscarriages.
- Second-trimester loss in the past.
- History of ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.
- Suspected thyroid/hormonal issues, PCOS, fibroids, or clotting disorders.
- Difficulty conceiving after 6–12 months (depending on age).
Guidelines Reference
- NHS & NICE (UK): No medical need to delay trying after an uncomplicated early miscarriage; some clinicians suggest waiting until after one period, mainly for dating clarity and emotional readiness. (NICE = National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the UK’s official evidence-based guidance body.)
- ACOG (US): Most can try once they feel physically and emotionally ready; earlier attempts do not increase risk in uncomplicated cases.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But the best modern evidence suggests that, for most healthy women after an uncomplicated early loss, there’s no medical reason to delay, and trying within 3–6 months may even improve the odds of a live birth. The most important factor is that you feel ready. Pair the science with compassion for yourself.
Related Articles
- Miscarriage Statistics by Week (Causes, Risk Factors, Weekly Rates)
- What Can Cause A Miscarriage (And What Does Not)
- Can Stress Cause Miscarriage? – Yes, Maybe, according to Research…
Book Recommendations
(Links to Amazon)
- It Starts with the Egg: The Science of Egg Quality for Fertility, Miscarriage, and IVF (Third Edition)
- 9 Months Is Not Enough: The Ultimate Pre-pregnancy Checklist to Create a Baby-Ready Body and Build Generational Health
- My Little Jellybean: a poem collection on pregnancy loss
Research References
- Schliep, Karen C. PhD; Mitchell, Emily M. PhD; Mumford, Sunni L. PhD; Radin, Rose G. PhD; Zarek, Shvetha M. MD; Sjaarda, Lindsey PhD; Schisterman, Enrique F. PhD. Trying to Conceive After an Early Pregnancy Loss: An Assessment on How Long Couples Should Wait. Obstetrics & Gynecology 127(2):p 204-212, February 2016. | DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001159
- Love E R, Bhattacharya S, Smith N C, Bhattacharya S. Effect of interpregnancy interval on outcomes of pregnancy after miscarriage: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics in Scotland BMJ 2010; 341 :c3967 doi:10.1136/bmj.c3967
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Practice Bulletin No. 212: Early Pregnancy Loss. Updated 2022.
- World Health Organization. Report of a WHO Technical Consultation on Birth Spacing. 2005.
- NHS. Miscarriage – Trying Again. Updated 2023.
- NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Antenatal Care and Pregnancy Loss Guidance. Updated 2023.
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Green-top Guideline No. 17. Updated 2023.
If you are struggling – or were struggling – with miscarriages and trying to conceive, you are certainly not alone! It can be a very tough situation! How are you coping? Are you? Have you succeeded in getting pregnant after miscarriage? Please share your situation with other parents around the world by leaving a comment below. Many parents have.
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
I had a miscarriage last year. My husband and I tried to get pregnant again right away, but it took about 8 months of trying to be successfully pregnant again! We are so excited!
I’ m currently 12 Weeks pregnant and the baby’s heart rate is 152 bpm. If you are trying to get pregnant and it is taking a while don’t give up It will happen. God bless.
Oh, I am so happy for you, Sarah! Big hug and good luck with your pregnancy!
I am so upset. I was so excited to be pregnant after trying for a year. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I joined a birth club.
We have two healthy boys with no history of miscarriage. Everything was going great. Last Monday, I got the H1N1 vaccine thimerosal reduced (mercury reduced for pregnant women). On Tuesday morning, I started cramping and on Wednesday I started bleeding heavily. My HCG was 50 on Wednesday and I was almost 6 weeks along so it was low. They still thought that I might be pregnant, but on Friday my HCG was down to 22.
I am an emotional wreck. I feel like I had a healthy baby and I caused this by getting the H1N1 vaccine. My doctors pushed it. I researched online and there have been many miscarriages after the H1N1 vaccine but they haven’t been reported since it is hard to say what caused the miscarriages. I hope that I did not cause this. I wish everyone the best.
I am so sorry for the loss of your baby. I don’t know if it is of any help in your emotional healing process, but since your miscarriage, several research studies have been carried out and none have found a higher risk of miscarriage among women who took the H1N1 vaccine. On the contrary, getting the flu seems to be associated with higher risks for the mom and fetus.
So even if the miscarriage was very hard for you to go through, since it happened when you were 6 weeks pregnant, it is quite likely that something went wrong with the little embryo or the implantation process for other reasons. That early in pregnancy, miscarriage risk is still quite high, and no one really can tell you why it happened.
If you are curious on reading more about the H1N1 vaccine and pregnancy and miscarriage, here are three links:
Warm wishes,
Paula
So sorry for your loss, please hang in there.
I had my first child at 16 years old, an unplanned pregnancy of course. Although I enjoyed being a mother I knew that I did not want any more children. I had an IUD placed just to make sure.
I met my husband a whole 10 years later and we quickly fell in love and got married. It’s amazing what stability and love can do for your thoughts. We married a year later and two weeks after the wedding I had the IUD removed. I was told that I would be able to get pregnant right away. Six agonizing months went by before I got a positive pregnancy test. Needless to say we where over the moon excited.
Everything was perfect until one night I started to have slight cramping that I thought was just some stomach issues. Within an hour of the first cramp we where sitting in the emergency room and I was bleeding so badly I just knew in my heart that my world was about to be rocked. Sure enough we lost our little dream come true. I thought I would never get over the heartbreak. I didn’t want to eat and just could not keep from crying. I felt like my life was over.
Eventually, I started to regain my composure one day at a time and with the help of a local miscarriage support group. For the next three years we tried and tried to get pregnant again. We succeeded a few times but each ended in early miscarriage. I blamed it on the IUD, my husband just blamed on fate and destiny. I gave up on my dreams of having another baby.
Another few months by after three of pregnancies and miscarriages and I had a routine gyn appointment. I found out that day that I was expecting, without even trying and held my breath for nine months until my beautiful baby girl was born.
The best way I can describe as how I got through 8 miscarriages is that I just kept telling myself that everything happens for a reason and life must go on. My baby girl is now one month old and I still have to pinch myself sometimes because I never thought I would ever be a mommy again.
Jamie, my warmest congratulations to becoming a mom again! I can’t even imagine how tough it must have been. 8 miscarriages!! I was heartbroken after just one.
Thank you so much for sharing!
So happy for you, maybe the stress of not trying it was able to maintain!
It has been a roller coaster time for my wife and I. We have been trying for two years to get pregnant but to no avail. Each month the depressing realization that we haven’t broken the cycle of failure means at least a week of melancholy for us both. Only when we were on the waiting list for IVF did we cheer up, because at least there was an end-point in sight.
Well, the month we were due to begin the IVF cycle, we fell pregnant. We were delighted that we have conceived naturally. Many people say that when you are less worried and stressed pregnancy happens.
However, just 10 weeks in, our joy was destroyed when my wife detected some bleeding, and a scan showed that our baby had no heartbeat. What was so awful was that we could see the shape of our little one on the ultrasound scan. The moment when we saw that it was real, was the same moment that we were told we had lost it. I still can’t get the image of our lifeless baby out of my head.
I had composed speeches where I would tell my family and friends and colleagues that I was going to become a Dad. Now I will have to wait.
After the miscarriage my wife returned to work, and several of her colleagues have told her their stories of infertility and serial miscarriages. This makes us feel better! At least we know we can conceive naturally. We’ll be trying again from next month.
Hi Bobby,
I’m new to this site , but can I say I had tears reading your story and goose bumps at the same time! My husband and I feel your pain! It’s the excitement you are pregnant, the dreams and future plans…and then… it’s all gone! :( It’s all too familiar!
All I can say is good luck with everything, hope the heartbreak turns into happiness with baby news! We are in a similar position and long to be blessed with a baby. God bless!
I am 25 years old and I just lost my baby at 5weeks and I ended up having sex with my husband just 5 days later. (I think he stopped me from bleeding my full 7 days) We are hoping that I am pregnant again…
I have read a lot about other women having a baby right after a miscarriage also hearing that you are even more fertile when you have a MC or Giving birth to your newborn…
I’m excited also worried I do not want to go through the same thing again.. I’m getting some kind of String mucus that’s stretchy and also clear no smell and it seems like my vaj has become more wet than before I am also having Headaches and a metal taste in my mouth with wanting to throw up and I’m blowing air.
I’m wondering if its all in my head or am I pregnant and just feeling the symptoms..
Hi,
I am sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Regarding you being pregnant or not, it is hard to say. It does sound a bit too early to me to ovulate already 5 days after a miscarriage, but maybe the embryo had been dead for a while before you actually miscarriaged. In such a case, I guess it could be possible.
It is also possible that you are ovulating! Which is also a good thing, this early after a miscarriage. So grab the opportunity just in a case if you feel ready for it ;-) But remember that a miscarriage IS a loss, even if it is an early miscarriage. It’s totally fine to wait and heal before trying for another baby too.
Thanks for sharing, and good luck! If it turns out that you really are pregnant, please come back and let us know.
Paula
I found out I had a miscarriage this Tuesday. I had a D & C procedure the same day. I had worried about the possibility of a miscarriage. I kept hoping it wouldn’t happen. One doctors appointment changed our lives. I haven’t been the same since. Your article helped me gain insight as to how long we should wait to try again. We are healing one day at a time.
I am SO sorry for you, Jacqueline! I know how painful it is. Take your time to heal.
Hugs!
I am sorry to hear of your loss. The excitement and planning of a child happens as soon as you find out you are pregnant, all the what-ifs.
My advice is for you to allow your body and mind to heal. I understand you want another baby right away, but give yourself and your body time.
I hear stories all the time about women getting pregnant right away, and once they get pregnant again they are scared..and understandably.
I wish you well and hope you are well in the days ahead. While I have never miscarried, I have lost a child at the age of 2, and I understand wanting to have my child and how upsetting loss truly is.
My husband and I have miscarried twice since beginning to try to conceive. The first one was horrible and the second one too. Felt like I was being kicked while I was already down. I am rhogam negative and it causes problems in keeping a viable pregnancy because my husband is rhogam positive (dominant genetic trait). And my body fights off pregnancies like the common cold.
Our doctor recommended that we wait 3-4 months (or regular periods) before attempting to conceive again and we have.
I took an at home pregnancy test (a fancy-digital one) Thursday the 23rd and got so very excited! It was positive! I was really hopeful this time. But then my period came like normal, on the evening of the 25th (Saturday). How can this be!
Am I pregnant or not? Did I miscarry again? I have no idea, but I do know that the doctor can’t do anything to change that anyway, so I am going to wait a few days until the bleeding stops and take another at home test. Several women have told me that they have experienced the same thing and went on to have healthy children/pregnancies, so I am trying to keep my chin up and wait this out. Wish me luck
You may very well be pregnant! Some women do bleed in early pregnancy without it being their period or a miscarriage. You can read about bleeding in pregnancy here.
I am crossing my fingers for you!
I had a miscarriage about 2 months ago, I was devastated. And to make matters worse, we had to spend 8 hours in the emergency room before they finally told us what by that point I already knew.
My husband and had been so excited at the idea of being parents, and this being our first pregnancy we told everyone, & having to tell them all that we had lost it was awful. The entire situation seemed to drag on forever. The bleeding/spotting lasted near 2 weeks, and it seemed like it was doctors appointment after doctors appointment. I have seen more doctors in the past 2 months than I have in the past 10 years!
The worst part of my situation was that a close friend of ours is also pregnant and we were due just 2 days apart. It has been over 2 months since my miscarriage and it still kills me to see them.
A short while ago we were finally given the okay to start trying again, and we have but I have heard so many people say that they tried for months before finally conceiving, and I dread having to wait that long.
We so want to start our family, we already have the nursery pretty well finished, and everything is ready.. all that is missing is a little baby. It kills me that my friend, who is not prepared at all gets to have a baby, and I am left with an empty nursery.
Thanks for sharing and I cross my fingers that you will conceive SOON. I’ve had two miscarriages. After the first, it took several months to conceive again, but after the second we got pregnant very quickly. Now I have three kids :-)
You’ll make it!
I was downright shocked when I started bleeding heavily in my 6th week of pregnancy with my second. I come from a long line of fertile women and no one in
my family has ever had a miscarriage. And my first pregnancy was textbook. But it happened and I didn’t know what to make of it. I never imagined I would have one.
My doctor advised me to wait till I had a menstrual cycle to try again. Of course, that could take months, but we want another baby so I waited patiently. We weren’t super careful, just used old fashioned methods to not conceive. I haven’t had a cycle in 3 months. Of course, that’s a good thing considering I’m 12 weeks pregnant. We conceived 10 days after my miscarriage.
I don’t know if this is the best forum to discuss this because I know there are many who struggle for a long time. And I in no way want to offend or hurt anyone. But I came to this forum after my miscarriage and couldn’t relate to many of the stories. So I wanted to share mine in case someone out there is in my position where fertility isn’t a problem but they miscarry anyway. Miscarriage is a frightening and sad experience, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will slow you down.
Good luck to everyone out there who is trying.
Pregnant again after two miscarriages… Cross your fingers for this mom, who shares her experience of two miscarriages in a row:
My husband and I have 2 wonderful boys (age 10 and 5). In the summer of 2014 we found out we were expecting #3! We were excited! We had just moved into a big house with plenty of room and we were ready to fill it up!
At 6 weeks I started getting immobilizing pains in my lower abdomen. I couldn’t walk or talk or breathe even when these came. We went to the ER and they did all sorts of tests to make sure everything was ok. No heartbeat was seen, but they said it was still pretty early. We went home and I was on strict orders to rest for the next few days.
A week later I started bleeding and went to the ER to find out I was having a miscarriage. I was devastated! It was hard to tell my husband and kids and my mother.
But after months of moving on we were ready to try again. In March 2015 I found out I was pregnant again. We were excited but scared. Everyone said chances of it happening 2 times in a row were slim and we should just enjoy it. We sailed past 6 weeks, then 8 weeks went by and the statistics got better. At 10 weeks I had an ultrasound. The look on the lady’s face said it all. No heartbeat was found and no yolk sac or placenta or anything. I was crushed. I once again had to break the bad news to everyone. I was done and ready to give up. We waited a long time to decided to try again.
August 2016 I found out we are expecting once again. I’m scared and nervous and trying to keep positive about it. We did see a heartbeat at 7 weeks and that made me feel so much better. I’ve also had more symptoms this time than the last 2 times… nausea, breast tenderness, extreme tiredness. Dr wants to see me every 2 weeks for a few months to make sure baby is growing ok and everything is fine. It’s so hard to wait for the next appointment.
I go back on Monday (5 days from now) and these 2 weeks go so slow! I just want to see that heartbeat again and know it’s still ok. When a day comes when my morning sickness isn’t as bad I worry that this is it, I’m done, it’s over. Then sure as can be it comes creeping up at some point in the day. I’d actually rather be sick everyday all day and know the baby is ok, than feel nothing and be worried.
Every day, every time I go to the bathroom I keep hoping to not see red on the paper. And every time it’s fine, it’s a true blessing from God to tell me “it’s ok”.
Hi Heidi, thanks so much for sharing! I really hope everything will go well this time! A heartbeat is a good sign so crossing my fingers!