It can be a very emotional and sensitive time after having suffered through a miscarriage, and all the hopes and preparations that went into considerations for life after the pregnancy.
Who is at risk for miscarriage?
As many as 25% of women may experience a miscarriage, they are at the greatest risk between week 4 and 6 of pregnancy. After about the 8 week mark the baby’s heartbeat will show up on a scan, at which point the risk of miscarriage is only about 5%.
What factors can increase the risks of a miscarriage?
There are many factors that increase the risk of miscarriage. These can include the woman’s age, her health (for example, obesity and chronic conditions or diseases increase risk) or habits. If she has a history of miscarriage, certain medications may increase risk (NSAIDS like Ibuprofen or aspirin increase risk), as well as smoking, drinking, and illicit drug use.
Can I still get pregnant after a miscarriage?
The short answer is yes. It is recommended to abstain from intercourse for 2 weeks after a miscarriage, because there may be the risk of infection otherwise. Your normal menstrual cycle will return after about 6 weeks, although it is possible to become pregnant before that.
How can I increase my chances of conceiving after a miscarriage?
Women who become pregnant within 6 months of a miscarriage are likely to have a lower risk of complications than those who waited until after 6 months. Having a miscarriage will not make you less fertile, but if you have had 2 or more, then you should talk to your doctor about underlying causes. There can be environmental causes or factors that can be removed, such as toxin exposure, drug or alcohol use, or even limiting caffeine intake or stress reduction. If there are no factors evident, a series of tests will be ran to look at potential causes before pregnancy should be attempted again.
How can I better the odds of a full-term pregnancy?
Women who are near, or over, 40 have up to a 35% higher chance of miscarrying. For women in this age group, with high risk pregnancies (such as due to the woman having an intermittent accompanying illness like PCOS), or for women that may have miscarried before, IVF fertility medicines and hormones may be recommended for a better chance of a successful pregnancy.
Doctors are more likely to suggest accompanying IVF options with IVF medications to improve the odds of a full gestational pregnancy. In many cases, no direct cause is for the miscarriage(s) and it can be a very frustrating time for the couple or parent.
Alternative options for the parent
Depending on the underlying cause of the miscarriage, the doctor may have alternative suggestions for the mother. In some cases, using a gestational surrogate may be an option, or the doctor may suggest embryoadoption if the cause was internal within the embryo.
For further reading on fertility techniques, fertility medications, hormones, IVF procedures and IVF meds, please check out our IVFPrescriptions.com blog and list of medications sold in our online pharmacy.
