Trying to Conceive After a Miscarriage

First, the thing nobody tells you clearly

Miscarriage is not rare, and it was not caused by anything you did. NICE estimates miscarriage occurs in 8% to 24% of clinically recognised pregnancies, and notes the true rate is higher because many losses happen before a pregnancy is recognised at all. About 25% of women experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. Around 80% of miscarriages happen in the first trimester.

The RCOG states that the most common cause of a miscarriage, single or recurrent, is that the pregnancy developed with abnormal chromosomes — this accounts for around 1 in 2 miscarriages. That is an event that occurs at conception, in a single cell, before you knew anything had happened. It is not a consequence of lifting something, of stress, of working, of exercising, or of having had a glass of wine before you knew.

The numbers on trying again

Tommy's, which runs the UK's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, publishes the figures most people want and rarely get:

• Early miscarriage occurs in an estimated 10 to 20 of every 100 pregnancies; second-trimester loss in 3 to 4 of every 100.
• Where a heartbeat is seen at 6 weeks, around 78% of pregnancies continue; at 8 weeks, 98%; at 10 weeks, 99.4%.
• After three or more consecutive miscarriages with no cause found, 6 out of 10 women go on to have a baby.

Recurrent miscarriage — defined by the RCOG as three or more early miscarriages — affects about 1 in 100 women. The RCOG is direct about the outlook: where recurrent miscarriage is unexplained, the chance of a successful pregnancy next time "is likely to be good, even without changing anything."

Age does affect risk, and you should have the figures rather than a vague warning. The RCOG gives risk of miscarriage as 11 to 15 in 100 for women under 35, 25 in 100 at 35 to 39, 51 in 100 at 40 to 44, and 93 in 100 over 45. Miscarriage may also be more common where the father is over 40.

How long to wait before trying again

The NHS position is that you can try to get pregnant again when you feel ready, once your symptoms have gone. There is no required waiting period. Physically, it can take up to 8 weeks before your next period, and a few months for cycles to return to what is usual for you.

"When you feel ready" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, and it is not a medical instruction to hurry. Some people want to try immediately; some cannot face it for a year. Neither is wrong, and neither improves or worsens your odds in the way you might fear.

A change in the rules that works in your favour

NICE guideline NG257, published in March 2026, added a recommendation that matters a great deal if you have been trying for a while. If a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy happens during the year of trying that makes you eligible for fertility investigations — or during a period of expectant management for unexplained infertility, or during a course of artificial insemination — the timeframe continues. It does not restart.

Under older practice, some people were told their clock had reset and they had to begin the count again. That is no longer the recommendation. If you are told otherwise, this is recommendation 1.16.7 in NG257, and it is worth naming.

What actually affects your next pregnancy

Very little of this is within your control, and it is important that the list is honest rather than long.

• Chromosomal abnormality in the pregnancy — around half of miscarriages, and not preventable. In about 6 in 100 couples who have had three miscarriages, one parent carries a balanced chromosome rearrangement that does not affect them but can cause loss; this is what genetic testing after recurrent miscarriage looks for.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome — where this is found alongside recurrent miscarriage, treatment with low-dose aspirin and heparin can increase the chance of a successful pregnancy. This is one of the few genuinely treatable causes, and it is a reason to accept investigation.
• Uterine shape — a septate or bicornuate uterus can increase risk.
• Poorly controlled diabetes raises risk; well-controlled diabetes does not.
• BMI over 25 or under 19, smoking, and drinking more than recommended amounts of alcohol or caffeine may increase risk. These are worth addressing where you can. They are not why it happened.

Where recurrent miscarriage is unexplained, the RCOG states there is currently no evidence that any medical treatment reduces the chance of a further miscarriage. That is a hard sentence to read, and it is also protection against paying for interventions with no evidence behind them.

When to seek help

• After 3 or more miscarriages, the NHS advises talking to a GP; this is the threshold for referral for recurrent miscarriage investigation. If possible, you and your partner should be seen together.
• Sooner if you are 36 or over, if there was a second-trimester loss, if you have a known condition such as PCOS, thyroid disease or diabetes, or if you have had an ectopic pregnancy.
• Ask about the recurrent miscarriage clinic specifically rather than a general gynaecology referral, where one exists in your area.

The general fertility referral thresholds run alongside this and are worth knowing, because loss and difficulty conceiving often overlap. NICE advises offering both partners assessment and investigation after 1 year of trying, and referral at first presentation if you are 36 or over or either partner has a known or suspected cause. ACOG advises evaluation after 12 months, or after 6 months if you are older than 35. A known condition such as PCOS or endometriosis moves you into the earlier group straight away.

If you have had a loss and you are also struggling to conceive again, say both things at the appointment. They are frequently treated as separate conversations when they should be one.

Investigations may include tests for antiphospholipid antibodies, thyroid function, chromosome analysis of both partners and imaging of the uterus. If a cause is found, treatment may improve your chances. If none is found, that is the most common outcome and it is compatible with a good prognosis.

Support

You do not have to hold this alone, and you do not have to be in crisis to contact these organisations.

• Tommy's — pregnancy and baby loss information, a midwife helpline, and the UK's National Centre for Miscarriage Research: tommys.org
• The Miscarriage Association — helpline, support groups, and resources for partners and for people supporting someone: miscarriageassociation.org.uk

The RCOG notes that some people experience significant symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress after pregnancy loss, and that you can be offered referral for further support and treatment. Asking for that is not an overreaction.