Thoughts on how long to wait to try again?

BooksForMe23

Hello everyone.  So I recently spoke to my doctor, and she said that my husband and I were safe to start TTC again after my levels were back down to zero.  I've used the search option on here and also used Dr. Google, and it seems that some people have been told to wait 2-3 cycles to give their linings a chance to build back up.  Another article I read said to wait 6-18 months!  I was just wondering what everyone else's doctors are saying.  Even if I can start TTC soon, I don't think I'm emotionally ready, but I would like to hear the most recent medical advice people have gotten.

chloe97

I'm pretty sure that the consensus in the posts that I have read on here is that there is no medical evidence for waiting after your HCG levels have dropped to 0. I had a D&C and my first doctor suggested waiting 2 cycles, my current doctor (who is much more up to date with current ACOG recommendations) suggested waiting one. There is research shows that women are actually most fertile the first 3 cycles after miscarriage.

Ultimately, this is a personal decision. My H and I will be TTC after my first AF after MC because I'm 36 and we want 2 kids. We were lucky to get pregnant our first try, but as I get older it probably won't be as easy for us and of course we worry about the potential of RPL and other risks because of my age. I'm not sure how old you are, but if I were in my early 30s or younger, I'd probably wait a few cycles to heal emotionally and physically a bit better. Though I have to say that I really just want to be pregnant again. It may not be healthy, but I feel like I will just feel better when I am pregnant again.

m6agua

The OB that diagnosed my MC said no need to wait only to wait until first AF because of dating purposes. However my doctor said to wait 2-3 cycles I think because of emotional reasons. We decided to NTNP for the first cycle and now we are back to trying.

ollie&lulu

Following because I want to start trying as soon as I can

AmMcc12

I had a CP on 12/20 and the nurse said to wait 3 months. DH and I decided not to do that. The nurse said that years ago we wouldn't have even known we were pregnant, so my thought is if we didn't know then we would have kept going so why not keep going now. We are NTNP this cycle (right after MC) and will start actively trying again next cycle.

comealongponds

I had a natural miscarriage at 7w and my doc told me we were free to start trying again whenever we felt ready and I had a neg pregnancy test.

Waiting for your first period is really only to make it easier for dating, and reduce worry if you have an ultrasound and you're not as far along as to expect.

We are already trying again, despite no AF yet. I track using temps and OPKs so I have a pretty decent idea of when I ovulate so we'll just base my dates off of that.

I believe the WHO still recommends waiting 6 months, but that's based on a single study from a while ago and other studies have since shown either no clear benefit to waiting or a slight advantage to conceiving within six months after a MC.

RiverSong15

My doctor told me to wait 1 month (until my first period), and then we could try again. The reasons are twofold: first, they want to make sure HCG levels are dropping and that there are no complications from the MC, and second, it will make dating the next pregnancy easier, as the first cycle after a MC can be wacky. I've heard some people recommend waiting a couple extra months to replenish folic acid supplies and such, but I haven't seen the medical research.

The Mayo Clinic website says that the WHO does still recommend 6 months, but that there is no real supportive evidence for this, and that there are some studies that show women who get pregnant again within six months have fewer complications. This is all for women with one miscarriage. For women with two or more, they recommend discussing things with your doctor, as further testing may be warranted.

1017Shannon

Hi! My doctor recommended I wait to get one period before trying after my D&C. She said there was no evidence that showed waiting longer helps/hinders.  She said her reason for me waiting to try again after a first period was to help with dating, so I wouldn't be guessing. As long as my HCG was 0 it was technically fair game. Good luck!!

CoonMom

My doctor said after my first AF following my MC. We've been NTNP.

morethancats

My doctor also told me to wait to get one regular period.  The stated reason was to "let my hormones even out." 

stephann85

My dr. said that we could start trying after 1 period, and that would be approx 4-6 weeks after the d&c.

zrain

I had a missed miscarriage and my midwife said no need to wait. Waiting one cycle is helpful for dating purposes, but I use FAM and know exactly when I ovulate so that's not an issue. It does depend on the type of miscarriage you had and how far along you were so it's always safest to follow the advice of a doctor or midwife for the minimum amount of time to wait, and then of course how much time you need emotionally as well

KatBH

I had a mc at about 6.5 weeks. I was told by my doctor that we would wait until my first natural period before starting another round if Clomid, but I was okay to start trying right away (it would just be a little difficult to track). 

ThePax89

I had a m/c at 5 weeks and got pregnant the next cycle before my period returned. I maintained that pregnancy for 9.5 weeks before that baby no longer had a beating heart. My ob speculates that I tried too soon. 

It is recommended now that I wait 2-3 cycles. 

takethelongway

My doctor said there is no reason to wait. We did IVF with a frozen embryo transfer and I am currently miscarrying. When we met with the doctor on Friday she said as soon as my numbers are back to 0 we can do another transfer. She specifically said there is new research that indicates waiting a cycle or two is not necessary. 

BrightenMySky

@takethelongway my RE said the same. We're going back to IUIs, not IVF, but he said don't need to prevent and we can go into a new cycle as long as things look ok at my baseline. 

takethelongway

@BrightenMySky Did you do IVF before? I was actually wondering about doing an IUI in between this loss and my next FET. I'm waiting to hear from my nurse to see if that's an option because it is cheaper than another FET. 

BrightenMySky

@takethelongway no I have not done IVF.  We have insurance coverage (briefly--it's through a one-year fellowship) for 6 IUIs then IVF, so that's the plan.  We have 3 down so far.  I see in your siggy that you have PCOS--I have heard that IUIs can be not great options because people with PCOS may have too many follicles, which many REs would consider unsafe for IUI (whereas IVF allows you more control over how many could potentially implant).  Couldn't hurt to ask your RE, though.  

madamerwin

My RE also said that we could try again after my hCG was back to zero. We plan to wait, though, until my husband can get off of graveyard shift... He was forced into it right around the time I found out I was pregnant (a surprise natural pregnancy right before we were going to start IVF), and going through the miscarriage by myself, and rarely seeing my husband, was more that I could handle again.

scifichick09

My doctor has said the same as many others have noted, 1-3 cycles or whenever you're ready. She basically had the view point of "you know your body best, so do what feels right".

SnobunnieMel

We asked my doctor about thistle morning of my d&c and he was really helpful. He said as soon as the spotting and bleeding stops then we are safe to try and actually encourages trying sooner. We talked about the WHO study that says 6 months and he told us about a study that was done in Scandinavia where they had women wait 6 months, 3 months or try right away. I guess the data was unanimous that those who tried right away had better results than those who waited. He did say make sure emotionally we are ready and to be aware that the first cycle take 4-8 weeks so tracking will be difficult. I know lots of people mention the WHO data and found it helpful to hear data from my doctor against it. 

MaybeBabyMama

My doctor suggested two full cycles after the return of AF. I really REALLY don't want to wait as we have a wedding in the spring that I need to plan around, BUT we also will have extensive testing this time. And emotionally, I'm sure it's right for me to wait and hopefully minimize the fear of a loss In future pregnancies. But I also must add that I had a successful pregnancy with my daughter and concierges her 2 weeks after a miscarriage. I don't think there is a right or a wrong here. 

Tennis11785

Mine said to wait until after my first period, but only to have good dating information, not for any real medical reason. 

yolandamunoz

I think the waiting period could be for us to recover emotionally.  I mean, if everything goes as expected with your body going back to "normal".  My doctor said we should wait two periods before TTC, so that my body is fully recovered. He also told me to see how I feel, that if I want to wait some more months it should be fine.

I am now over a month after my D&C, going through my first period after the procedure (really heavy painful period BTW), and I am glad my body is going back to normal.  I am still sad, and I still have meltdowns every now and then, but overall I feel I am making progress. Little unrelated things sometimes trigger my feelings (prolonged hugs), and other more obvious connections would not (I can still watch this show "call the midwife" on netflix that I started watching before getting pregnant).