If you have had a miscarriage, it is natural and very normal to wonder if you will ever be able to get pregnant again.
Suffering a miscarriage may be one of the most intensely sad and emotional experiences that you ever have, and it can make you question whether something is physically wrong with you. If you have recently experienced a pregnancy loss, you may feel tremendous grief and wonder if fertility after miscarriage is even possible.
5 facts about fertility after miscarriage
- About 1 in 4 pregnancies are lost within the first few months. Some experts believe that this number be as high as 1 in 2 pregnancies. The truth is that many women miscarry before they know they are pregnant.
- Very early miscarriages that occur shortly after an embryo implants are called "chemical pregnancies." If you have a chemical pregnancy, you may not even know that you are pregnant, as the bleeding likely occurs around the time that you would have had your period.
- Since most miscarriages take place within the first 3 months of pregnancy, many women keep the news of pregnancy quiet until they are past the 13-week mark. Once they are safely past the end of the first trimester, many women breathe a sigh of relief since the likelihood of miscarriage decreases.
- Miscarriage during the 2nd trimester is very rare and only occurs in an estimated 1 to 5 percent of pregnancies.
- As pregnancy progresses the risk of miscarriage decreases. Pregnancy loss after 20 weeks is known as preterm delivery.
Can a miscarriage be prevented?
Most often, once you get pregnant, you can do very little to prevent a miscarriage in the first trimester. If you have known health issues that may lead to miscarriage, make sure your doctor is following your pregnancy closely.
Once you are in your second or third trimester, your doctor may be able to act proactively to avoid a threatened pregnancy loss.
If you are trying to get pregnant, follow your doctor's advice and take care of your health. Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of rest and avoid alcohol and smoking. Drinking and smoking are both risk factors for miscarriage.
Can I get pregnant after miscarriage?
The chances of fertility after miscarriage are typically very good. Generally, the risk of a second loss is only slightly higher after a single loss.
Read more about the causes of miscarriage and how to cope following a miscarriage.
If you are trying to get pregnant after miscarriage, you may wonder if you'll ever be able to have a baby. Remain hopeful. A recent study has shown that most women that miscarry experience a return of fertility after miscarriage and go on to give birth to a healthy baby.
Ask a doctor about fertility after miscarriageSources: American Pregnancy Association: “Miscarriage.” http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html March of Dimes: “Miscarriage.” http://www.marchofdimes.com/baby/loss_miscarriage.html Bruce, D, Thatcher, S., & Berg, B. Making a Baby.
