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By Mayo Clinic staff
Physical recovery
Physical recovery from miscarriage in most cases will take only a few hours to a couple of days. Expect your period to return within six weeks. In the meantime, call your doctor if you experience heavy bleeding, fever, chills or severe pain. These signs and symptoms could indicate an infection. Avoid having sex or putting anything in your vagina — such as a tampon or douche — for two weeks after a miscarriage.
Future pregnancies
It's possible to become pregnant during the menstrual cycle immediately after a miscarriage. But if you and your partner decide to attempt another pregnancy, make sure you're physically and emotionally ready. Your doctor may recommend waiting at least one menstrual cycle, if not longer.
If you experience multiple miscarriages, generally more than three in a row, consider testing to identify any underlying causes - such as uterine abnormalities, coagulation problems or chromosomal abnormalities. In some cases your doctor may suggest testing after two consecutive losses, but two losses are still often due to chance and not to an underlying medical cause. If the cause of your miscarriages can't be identified, don't lose hope. Even without treatment, about 70 percent of women with repeated miscarriages go on to have successful pregnancies.
- Zuccala SJ, et al. Spontaneous miscarriage. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00028-7--sc0160&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00028-7--sc0160&uniqId=217216664-3. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Katz VL. Spontaneous and Recurrent Abortion: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment. In: Katz VL, et al., eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217216664-7/0/1524/100.html?tocnode=53759223&fromURL=100.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Simpson JL, et al. Pregnancy loss. In: Gabbe, SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217216664-3/0/1528/242.html?tocnode=57027393&fromURL=242.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06930-7..50026-8_1154. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Early pregnancy loss: Miscarriage and moloar pregnancy.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp090.cfm. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Tulandi T, et al. Spontaneous abortion: Risk factors, etiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic evaluation. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Tulandi T, et al. Spontaneous abortion: Management. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2010.
- Puscheck EE, et al. The impact of male factor on recurrent pregnancy loss. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology: 2007;19:222..
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 7, 2010.
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