Pregnancy after miscarriage: when to try again, your chances and what support exists

The NHS says you can try to get pregnant again when you feel ready, after your symptoms have gone. It advises not having sex until miscarriage symptoms have gone because of a risk of infection, and says that after a miscarriage it can take up to 8 weeks before you have a period again, and it may take a few months for periods to go back to what is usual for you.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says you can have sex as soon as you both feel ready, and that if you normally have regular periods the next one will usually come in 4 to 6 weeks. Miscarriage UK similarly says your next period will usually return within four to six weeks, although it can vary, and that pregnancy tests may stay positive for some time because pregnancy hormones can take a while to leave the body.

Neither source describes a medically required waiting period. The right time is when your body has recovered and you feel emotionally ready, and that may be sooner or later than you expect. There is no right timeline, as Miscarriage UK puts it.

The RCOG says early miscarriages are very common: in the first 3 months, one in five women will have a miscarriage, for no apparent reason, following a positive pregnancy test. It says most miscarriages happen as a one-off event and there is a good chance of a successful pregnancy in future, and that you are not at higher risk of another miscarriage if you have had one or two early miscarriages.

The NHS lists factors that may increase the chance of miscarriage, including being aged 35 or over, being from a Black African or Black Caribbean background, the baby's father being aged 45 or over, and conditions such as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), diabetes, a blood clotting condition or thyroid problems. Other listed factors include a problem with the womb, low progesterone, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, a lot of caffeine, alcohol, obesity or being underweight, and exposure to harmful chemicals or high levels of air pollution.

The RCOG gives age-related figures: at 30 the risk of miscarriage is one in five (20%), and over the age of 40 it is one in two (50%). Many of the other factors can be discussed with a GP before you try again.

The NHS says to talk to a GP if you have had 3 or more miscarriages, which is called recurrent miscarriage. You will usually be referred for tests to find out if there is a cause that can be treated, and you will be offered support. The RCOG has separate information about recurrent and late miscarriage.

A single miscarriage does not normally lead to investigations, because it is most often caused by a problem with the way the pregnancy developed rather than something wrong with you. If you are worried after a loss, or have had a later loss, it is still reasonable to ask your GP or early pregnancy unit what is advised in your situation.

The RCOG says that like anyone else planning to have a baby, you should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day from when you start trying until 12 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of the baby being born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida, be as healthy as you can by eating a balanced diet and stopping smoking, and avoid alcohol, which may increase your chance of miscarriage.

If you have a long-term condition such as diabetes or a thyroid problem, ask your GP or specialist whether your treatment should be reviewed before you conceive. The NHS lists these conditions among those that may increase the chance of miscarriage, so having them well controlled is part of preparation.

• Take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily from when you start trying until 12 weeks of pregnancy.

• Stop smoking and avoid alcohol.

• Eat a balanced diet and aim for a healthy weight.

• Have long-term conditions reviewed before you conceive.

• Tell your GP or midwife about your previous loss early in the next pregnancy.

Pregnancy after loss can be emotionally hard. Miscarriage UK says alongside hope and excitement many people experience anxiety, fear or difficulty feeling reassured even when things are going well medically, and that scans, milestones, symptoms and anniversaries can all feel significant.

The NHS says that if you are pregnant and have vaginal bleeding with severe tummy pain, shoulder pain, feeling sick, faint or dizzy, or heavy bleeding, you should call 999. For lighter bleeding or spotting with no or only mild pain, or unusual discharge or fluid leaking, it advises urgent medical help from your maternity unit or an early pregnancy unit if you are under 20 weeks, or NHS 111. Bleeding is common in early pregnancy and is not always serious, but it is reasonable to seek advice.

Wanting another pregnancy does not make your loss any less real, and neither does feeling uncertain or choosing not to try again, according to Miscarriage UK. It says you do not need to make decisions immediately and that counselling or peer support can help create space to explore difficult emotions.

The NHS says your GP surgery or pregnancy unit can offer information about counselling and other support services, that support is also available for partners, and it lists Miscarriage UK and Tommy's as national charities offering advice and support, including helplines.

On the NHS, early pregnancy units provide scans and assessment for bleeding or pain in early pregnancy, and recurrent miscarriage clinics investigate after three or more losses. Some people also choose private early scans for reassurance in the next pregnancy. A scan can show how the pregnancy is progressing, but it cannot prevent a miscarriage, and the reassurance is not permanent, so it can help to think in advance about how you will cope with the waiting.