'No need to wait' 6 months after miscarriage

Women who have had a miscarriage don't need to wait for months before trying to get pregnant again, new research suggests.

Women who conceive again within six months of a miscarriage have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy with the lowest complication rates.

They are also less likely to experience a caesarean section, deliver prematurely or have low birth weight babies.

The findings, published online in the British Medical Journal contradict guidelines from the World Health Organisation, which recommend that women should wait at least six months before getting pregnant.

Women who miscarry are at an increased risk of a second miscarriage, and also at greater risk of complications in a subsequent pregnancy. Around one in five pregnancies ends in miscarriage before 24 weeks.

But the length of time couples are advised wait before trying again to get pregnant are not consistent, say experts.

A team of researchers from the University of Aberdeen analysed data from more than 30,000 women who attended hospitals in Scotland between 1981 and 2000. All suffered a miscarriage in their first pregnancy and became pregnant again.

Women who conceived again within six months were less likely to have complications, another miscarriage, termination of pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy compared to women who got pregnant between six and 12 months after miscarriage.

The findings are particularly relevant for women in the western world who may delay pregnancy.

“Women over 35 are more likely to experience difficulties in conceiving and women aged 40 years have a 30 per cent chance of miscarriage which rises to 50 per cent in those aged 45 years or more … any delay in attempting conception could further decrease their chance of a healthy baby," the authors said.

"Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best reproductive outcomes and lowest complication rates in a subsequent pregnancy," the authors concluded.

This article was published on Fri 6 August 2010