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If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, our hearts sincerely go out to you. A pregnancy loss (at any stage) can be heartbreaking. So however you may be feeling, know that your emotions are completely valid. As time passes though, you may begin to have questions like: how long after a miscarriage can you have sex?
Your healthcare professional can help advise you on when it’s physically safe to have sex. But still, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
It all depends on your unique circumstances. This ranges from when the bleeding stops to when you feel emotionally ready for intimacy.
We know that this can be a challenging time. So we’re here to answer everything you’re wondering about sex after miscarriage.
When can I have sex after a miscarriage?
The NHS recommends abstaining from sex until you no longer have miscarriage symptoms. This is when you’re considered “physically” recovered.
The most obvious symptoms to watch for are vaginal bleeding and cramping. This is how your body passes the fetal tissue and other contents of the pregnancy.
But how long does it take to heal after a miscarriage? And for symptoms to go away?
Most of the pregnancy tissue will likely pass in the first 2 – 4 hours after the cramping and bleeding begins. But it is possible to have spotting or light bleeding for as long as 4 – 6 weeks.
As this is going on, your cervix will be more dilated than usual. And when your cervix is open wider, your uterus is more susceptible to infections. Hence why it’s important to wait before having sex.
In some cases, it’s possible to have an incomplete miscarriage. This means that not all of the pregnancy tissue passes on its own. If this happens, your doctor will recommend you have a dilation and curettage (D&C). In a D&C procedure, the doctor will remove the remaining tissue from the uterine lining.
Either way, it’s important that you wait at least 2 weeks before putting anything in the vagina. This includes sexual activity. It also includes using feminine hygiene products like tampons and douches.
But remember, the exact timing all depends on your unique situation. In some cases, you may be told to wait up to 6 weeks or longer. This is often the case if you had an ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, or a pregnancy that was further along.
Realize that these recommendations only reflect the physical aspect of sex after pregnancy loss. You’ll also want to take your emotional readiness into account.
What if you don’t feel ready for intimacy?
The grief and emotional healing that follows a miscarriage looks different for everyone. On paper, it may be technically safe for you to have sex. But, know that it’s completely normal to not feel emotionally ready at that time.
For some, even non-sexual physical touch may be overwhelming in the beginning. Stay in tune with your emotions and ease back into physical intimacy at a pace that feels right for you.
If you have a partner, be honest about how you’re feeling. Having open communication will help you each respect the other’s healing process. And if you’re really struggling with the grieving process, talk to a mental health professional.
When you do feel ready for sex, you may be concerned about how the sensation of penetrative intercourse will feel. This is a totally valid concern, and we’ll talk about it more in the next section.
Is sex after pregnancy loss painful?
Yes, it is possible for sex to feel somewhat uncomfortable after a pregnancy loss. This discomfort should disappear with time though. So if your first attempt at being physically intimate again isn’t very pleasurable, try not to feel discouraged.
If your discomfort doesn’t go away over time or you have any concerning symptoms, avoid sex and seek medical attention. Discharge, severe bleeding, fever, or severe pain could be a sign of infection.
Another question about sex after pregnancy loss that may be on your mind is if you have to wait for your period. You may be surprised to learn the answer to this one, so keep reading.
Do I need to wait for my period to return before having sex?
No, in most cases, you won’t need to wait for Aunt Flo to return before resuming sexual activity.
But do keep in mind that you’ll ovulate before you get your period again. This means it’s possible to get pregnant before your period resumes.
Also be aware that hormonal fluctuations are likely to cause your period to be irregular.
One of the main hormones playing a role in this is good old human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). After a miscarriage, it can take anywhere from one week to two months for your hCG levels to fall back to 0.
Once this residual hCG disappears, your period will start up again. Most women see their period return somewhere around 4 to 8 weeks after a pregnancy loss.
But the exact timing depends on two major factors:
1. How far along you were when you the miscarriage happened
If you had an early pregnancy loss, your hCG levels will go back to 0 more quickly. This means you would see your period return sooner than you would in a pregnancy that was farther along.
Know more: hCG and Miscarriage: What do they mean?
2. What your cycles were like before the miscarriage
Did you already have irregular cycles before getting pregnant? Then it could take longer for your period to resume as normal.
Regardless, be prepared for it to take a few cycles for your period to fully stabilize again.
And if you’re still planning on trying to conceive (TTC), it’s only natural to wonder about when you can expect to get pregnant again. We’ll talk about this next!
How soon can you get pregnant again after a miscarriage?
Technically, you could conceive the first time you ovulate after a miscarriage. That could happen as early as two weeks after the miscarriage.
But as far as when it’s safe to try to get pregnant again, current medical experts have conflicting advice.
The World Health Organization suggests couples wait six months before TTC after a miscarriage. This is to prevent complications for the mother and the baby.
But other research (like this study and this study) has found no evidence that conceiving even within 3 months leads to complications.
So what’s the bottom line here?
Once you’ve healed physically, it’s really up to you. If you feel ready, go for it. If not, wait until you feel ready. Just remember that once ovulation resumes, there’s a chance you could get pregnant again if you have sex.
Know more: Ovulation After Miscarriage: What Can You Expect?
Above all, make sure you talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
And if one of your concerns is about your fertility after a miscarriage? You’ll definitely want to read the next section!
Does a miscarriage affect your fertility?
You’re not alone if you’re concerned about a miscarriage messing with your chances of a future pregnancy. But here’s the good news: there’s no evidence that a miscarriage impacts your fertility in the long run.
Still, there have been studies that have explored how miscarriage affects short-term fertility outcomes.
One study looked at post-miscarriage pregnancy rates in over 1,000 women. For the women who tried to conceive within 3 months of their miscarriage, the pregnancy rate was 69%.
On the other hand, in the group that waited beyond 3 months, the pregnancy rate dropped to 51%. So this suggests that after a miscarriage, there could be some promise in TTC sooner rather than later.
But there’s also been research proving the opposite true. One study looked at the time it took to get pregnant after miscarriage in over 2,000 women.
Their findings showed that post-miscarriage, women were twice as likely to take longer to conceive than they did in their previous pregnancy. They also found that the chances of not carrying to term increased by 73%. And the odds tended to be worse for women who were overweight or obese.
Simply put, there’s conflicting evidence about how fertility is affected right after a miscarriage.
In case you’re still worried though, we’ll talk a little more about your chances of a future miscarriage next.
How can you prevent another miscarriage?
Breathe a sigh of relief because having one miscarriage doesn’t mean you will go on to have another.
In reality, most women will have a completely normal and healthy pregnancy following their miscarriage. In fact, less than 5% of women have two miscarriages back-to-back.
Also, realize that the majority of miscarriages have nothing to do with anything you did. So try your best to avoid blaming yourself for the pregnancy loss. It’s not your fault.
That said, there are certain medical conditions that are correlated to having repeated miscarriages.
Some of these conditions include:
- Abnormalities with the uterus
- Blood clotting disorders
- Autoimmune disorders like antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
- Thyroid disease
- Diabetes that is not treated or controlled
- High blood pressure
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
If you suffer from any of these conditions (or think you do), talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out a fertility treatment plan moving forward.
And here are some overall suggestions for staying on top of your health for the best fertility outcomes:
- Avoid smoking, consuming alcohol, or using any sort of recreational drugs.
- Take a high-quality prenatal supplement regularly. (Check with your doctor about which supplement would be best for you)
- If you have any medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, stay on top of your treatment plan.
- Limit the amount of caffeine you consume.
- Exercise regularly, manage stress effectively, and get enough sleep.
- Track your menstrual cycle so you know when to expect ovulation.
Let’s quickly talk a little bit more about tracking your cycle after a miscarriage.
In the first few weeks and months after the loss, your hormone levels will be out of whack. This leads to cycles that are irregular and less predictable.
But with Inito’s fertility monitor, you can confirm when you’re ovulating and accurately predict your fertile window. (Even as early as your first cycle post-miscarriage). This is all thanks to Inito’s ability to track your 4 fertility hormones–LH, estrogen, PdG, and FSH, on a single test strip.
Knowing this information can help you monitor your fertile window and plan sex once you’re feeling up to it again.
Takeaways
- Before you have sex after a pregnancy loss (even an early pregnancy loss), wait until you’re medically cleared and emotionally ready. The physical recovery time varies from woman to woman. And it depends on the specific circumstances of the loss.
- It’s very common to not feel ready for sex and intimacy in the weeks (or even months) after a miscarriage. Ease back into intimacy at your own pace. Instead, be honest with your partner and communicate your feelings. Also, seek professional help if you’re struggling to manage your grief.
- The first few times you have sex after a pregnancy loss, you may have some minor discomfort. But don’t worry, the discomfort will eventually go away.
- You do not need to wait to have sex until you get your period following a pregnancy loss. But realize that you could potentially get pregnant even if you haven’t had your period yet.
- Current research doesn’t agree on the best amount of time to wait before TTC after a pregnancy loss. So it’s best to check with your doctor about your unique situation.
- Remember that it is not your fault for miscarrying. In most cases, a miscarriage doesn’t impact your ability to have a healthy pregnancy in the future.
- When you are ready to TTC again, take steps to maintain your overall health and fertility. This can look like taking a prenatal vitamin, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
FAQs
Keep from inserting anything into the vagina for a minimum of two weeks to avoid infection. This is because after you miscarry, you will bleed (or spot) for about two weeks. And your cervix will remain dilated as the contents of the pregnancy pass through.
Once your miscarriage symptoms have subsided and you feel ready for intimacy, it is generally safe to have protected sex. But talk to your doctor to be sure!
For most people, it may take a few tries for sex to feel pleasurable again after a pregnancy loss. There may be some slight discomfort or cramping the first time or two.
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- Miscarriage – Afterwards – NHS
- What Happens After a Miscarriage? An Ob-Gyn Discusses the Options. | ACOG
- How soon can couples have sex again after a miscarriage? – ISSM
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- Report of a WHO Technical Consultation on Birth Spacing
- Interpregnancy interval and adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnancies following miscarriages or induced abortions in Norway (2008–2016): A cohort study | PLOS Medicine
- Is previous aberrant reproductive outcome predictive of subsequently reduced fecundity?
- Trying to conceive soon after a pregnancy loss may increase chances of live birth | National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Repeated Miscarriages | ACOG
