A study on the website for the British Medical Journal reveals women who wait six months or less to get pregnant after a miscarriage are more likely to conceive and carry a fetus full-term. The study was completed in Scotland. Researchers noted that the results could be relevant to populations like Scotland, developing countries may wish to continue following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Currently, WHO suggests a six month waiting period before women try to conceive after having a miscarriage. These guidelines are based on the fact that women who have miscarriages are more likely to have another. Researchers, however, believe waiting longer could be detrimental, especially for older women who have a higher risk of miscarriage related to age.
Researchers involved in this study, gathered information from medical records dating 1981 to 2000. Information was collected from more than 30,000 medical records of women who had suffered a miscarriage and become pregnant again soon after. Results revealed women who became pregnant before the six month waiting period had ended were less likely to suffer from a second miscarriage. Women who become pregnant between six and 12 months reported more miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and termination of pregnancy.
In addition to being less likely to suffer from another miscarriage, women who conceived within six months were more apt to deliver vaginally, full-term babies that were of normal weight. While the study authors believe this research reverses the recommendation of WHO, it is noted that certain medical cases would benefit from waiting as determined by a qualified obstetrician.
Source: Eleanor R. Love, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Norman C. Smith, Sohinee Bhattacharya. British Medical Journal. 6 August 2010