After miscarriage, women shouldn't delay trying again

Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy with the lowest complication rates, according to a study.

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 30,937 women who attended Scottish hospitals between 1981 and 2000. The participants all had a miscarriage in their first pregnancy and subsequently had another pregnancy. Results were published Aug. 5 by BMJ.

Compared with women with an interpregnancy interval of six to 12 months, those who conceived again within six months were less likely to have another miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.77), termination (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.57) or ectopic pregnancy (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.69). Women with an interpregnancy interval of more than 24 months were more likely to have an ectopic second pregnancy (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.42 to 2.72) or termination (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.91 to 3.01).

Compared with women with an interpregnancy interval of six to 12 months, women who conceived again within six months and went on to have a live birth in the second pregnancy were less likely to have a caesarean section (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83 to 0.98), preterm delivery (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.98) or infant of low birth weight (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.89) but were more likely to have an induced labor (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.23).

"Women wanting to become pregnant soon after a miscarriage should not be discouraged," the authors wrote. "There may be cases where a delay is desirable, for example if there are signs of infection, and women should be advised appropriately."