After a molar pregnancy
Wait until your hCG hormone follow-up has finished. Tommy's notes this may be up to 6 months, though it varies, and that the wait is 12 months after finishing chemotherapy if you needed it. See molar pregnancy.
Preparing for Your Next Pregnancy After Miscarriage
Most people who have a miscarriage go on to have a successful pregnancy. Whether you are thinking about trying again or have just seen a positive test, this guide covers when to try, what to review from last time, your health before conception, and how to plan scans and screening.
We set out what the NHS offers at each stage, and where our London scans and genetic counsellors can add to that care. If you are pregnant and bleeding heavily or in severe pain, call 999.
Available atLPC City (E1)LPC West (SW10)
Timing
When can you start trying again?
After most miscarriages there is no fixed waiting time. The NHS says you can try again when you feel ready, once your symptoms have gone. Avoid sex until the bleeding and pain have stopped, because of the risk of infection.
First, check the last pregnancy has fully ended. NICE advises a home pregnancy test 3 weeks after a miscarriage managed by waiting or with tablets, and going back to your care team if it is still positive. After surgery, follow the advice your unit gave you. A negative test also means your next positive result is clearly a new pregnancy.
Periods usually return 4 to 6 weeks after a miscarriage, though the NHS says it can take up to 8 weeks. You can ovulate before that first period, so use contraception if you are not ready yet.
Waiting for one period makes a new pregnancy easier to date, but Tommy's points out there is no health reason to wait: conceiving before your first period does not increase the risk, and some evidence links conceiving within 6 months of a miscarriage with a lower chance of miscarrying next time.
Exceptions
When you may be advised to wait
Sometimes there is a medical reason to hold off. If one of these applies, follow the advice of the team looking after you; the same goes if you are unwell or take a medicine not advised in pregnancy.
After an ectopic pregnancy
Tommy's says you will usually be advised to wait for at least 2 periods after surgery, or 3 to 6 months after treatment with methotrexate. See ectopic pregnancy.
While investigations are under way
Tommy's and Miscarriage UK say it can help to wait until tests after recurrent or late miscarriage are finished, so that any treatment they point to can be planned before you conceive.
Pregnancy after miscarriage in numbers
These figures describe large groups of people, not your own pregnancy. Each comes from a source listed at the foot of this page.
About 4 in 5 pregnancies after one previous miscarriage did not end in miscarriage, in pooled study data (Lancet, 2021)
6 in 10 miscarriages that are tested show a chromosome change in the pregnancy (Lancet, 2021)
4 to 6 weeks until your period usually returns after a miscarriage; for some it takes up to 8 weeks (Tommy's; NHS)
Before you try
Looking back: what last time can tell you
Many people never learn why they miscarried. On the NHS, chromosome testing of pregnancy tissue is usually offered from the third miscarriage, or after any loss in the second trimester (RCOG, 2023).
Gather your records
Ask the hospital or your GP for scan reports, discharge letters, blood results and any laboratory reports on pregnancy tissue, so they are ready for your next appointment.
Was a cause found?
If testing found a chromosome change, our guide to pregnancy after a chromosomal miscarriage explains what it means for next time, and understanding your result decodes the report. A normal chromosome result means other causes may be worth looking at, especially after more than one loss.
Do you need specialist genetics advice?
Speak to a genetics specialist if a report mentions a structural rearrangement or a finding of uncertain meaning, or if a chromosome condition runs in either family.
Test the parents only when there is a reason
Checking both partners' chromosomes (a parental karyotype) is not routine. The RCOG recommends it when pregnancy tissue shows an unbalanced structural chromosome change, or when tissue from a recurrent miscarriage could not be tested. We arrange karyotype testing with Jeen Health in these situations.
Wider checks after repeated losses
In the UK, recurrent miscarriage means three or more early losses, though doctors may investigate after two if they suspect a cause (RCOG, 2023). Recommended tests include bloods for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), thyroid function and thyroid antibodies, and a scan of the womb, ideally 3D. See recurrent miscarriage.
Preconception health
Getting your health ready
These steps, mostly from NHS advice for anyone trying to conceive, give the next pregnancy a good start; they are not a verdict on the last one. As Miscarriage UK notes, having a risk factor in a previous pregnancy does not mean it caused the loss.
- Take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, ideally from 3 months before trying until 12 weeks of pregnancy, to lower the chance of neural tube conditions such as spina bifida.
- Ask your GP about a higher 5 mg dose, which a GP can prescribe, if you have diabetes, sickle cell disease or thalassaemia, or take medicine for epilepsy or HIV; or if you or the baby's biological father, or a relative of either of you, has a neural tube condition, or a previous pregnancy was affected by one.
- Take 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, at least from October to March.
- Stop smoking, with support if you need it, and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs while trying.
- Keep caffeine under 200 mg a day and aim for a healthy weight; after recurrent miscarriage the RCOG suggests a BMI between 19 and 25.
- Review every medicine, including over-the-counter and herbal remedies, and any long-term condition such as diabetes or epilepsy, with your GP or specialist before trying. Do not stop a prescribed medicine until you have talked it through with them.
- Check your MMR vaccination and whether cervical screening is due, and get tested for sexually transmitted infections if either of you might need it.
- For a fuller review before trying, our consultant-led pre-pregnancy check-up combines a scan, an examination and blood tests.
Tailored care
Treatment that depends on your history
Some steps apply only to particular histories. Your doctor will advise whether one fits you.
Progesterone if you bleed
NICE recommends vaginal progesterone, 400 mg twice a day, if you bleed in early pregnancy, have miscarried before and a scan shows the pregnancy is in the womb, continuing to 16 weeks if there is a heartbeat. Without bleeding, NICE found no benefit from progesterone after a previous miscarriage. See progesterone in pregnancy.
Antiphospholipid syndrome
If you have APS, the RCOG recommends aspirin and heparin from a positive pregnancy test until at least 34 weeks, after discussing benefits and risks. They are not advised when recurrent miscarriage is unexplained.
Thyroid conditions
A thyroid disorder that is not well managed can raise the risk of miscarriage, so see your GP first. With thyroid antibodies but normal thyroid levels, the RCOG does not routinely recommend thyroid medicine.
Unexplained recurrent miscarriage
The RCOG recommends supportive care, ideally in a dedicated recurrent miscarriage clinic. Tommy's notes that some of these clinics, and some early pregnancy units, offer early scans and follow-up.
Once you are pregnant
Your first scan: NHS and private routes
An early scan shows where the pregnancy is, whether there is a heartbeat and how far along you are. A heartbeat can often be seen from about 6 weeks, but a scan cannot predict how things will go (Tommy's).
Through the NHS
After an early miscarriage you can ask your GP or early pregnancy unit about an early scan, but it may be offered only for a medical reason. After an ectopic or molar pregnancy you should be offered one at 6 to 8 weeks, and NICE says units should accept self-referral after recurrent miscarriage or a previous ectopic or molar pregnancy.
Privately
You choose the timing, though before 6 weeks may be too early for a clear answer. Tommy's advises a provider registered with the Care Quality Commission, and notes that not every NHS unit accepts private results, so follow-up may need a GP referral. Our viability scan is done at 6 to 9 weeks, with a written report.
If you bleed or have pain
Contact your maternity unit, an early pregnancy unit if you are under 20 weeks, or NHS 111. Call 999 for heavy bleeding, severe tummy pain, shoulder pain or if you feel faint.
Screening and testing
Screening and diagnostic tests to think about early
Screening decisions come round quickly in the first trimester, so talk them through early. Screening estimates a chance; only a diagnostic test can confirm a chromosome condition. Diagnostic tests are also offered when there is a known inherited risk, such as a parent carrying a chromosome rearrangement (RCOG).
| Test | When | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| NHS combined test | Blood test at 10 to 14 weeks, plus a neck (nuchal translucency) scan at 11 to 14 weeks | The chance of Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes, worked out with your age. |
| NHS NIPT | After a 'higher chance' first screening result (a chance of 1 in 150 or higher) | A more accurate screen for the same three conditions, using DNA in your blood, some of it from the placenta. Not a definite answer. |
| Private NIPT | From 10 weeks at our clinic, always alongside a scan | Depending on the test, a wider chromosome screen, including genome-wide options such as NIPTIFY, one of the most comprehensive genome-wide NIPT options currently available privately in the UK. Still a screening test: some of the DNA comes from the placenta, so a high-chance result needs a diagnostic test to confirm it. See NIPT. |
| CVS (chorionic villus sampling) | Usually 11 to 14 weeks; not before 10 weeks | A diagnostic test on a small sample of tissue from the placenta. |
| Amniocentesis | From 15 weeks | A diagnostic test on a small sample of the fluid around the baby. |
The RCOG says the extra miscarriage risk after CVS or amniocentesis by a skilled specialist is likely to be below 1 in 200; the NHS leaflet quotes about 1 in 200. We do not perform either test but can refer you to a fetal medicine specialist; see amniocentesis.
A specialist scan at around 10 weeks can look at some major structures that are already visible at this stage; it does not replace the 11 to 14 week and 20 week scans. See our 10-week scan.
If your last miscarriage had a chromosomal cause, pregnancy after a chromosomal miscarriage sets out a more specific plan.
Emotional readiness
Feeling ready, and coping once you are pregnant
Wanting another pregnancy and fearing another loss often go together. Miscarriage UK describes hope and fear existing side by side, and stresses that only you can decide when the time feels right, whatever others expect. You do not have to decide straight away.
The wait for a first scan is often the hardest part. Tommy's suggests booking earlier in the day, planning who will support you, and telling the person scanning you that you are anxious; you can ask for the screen to be turned away at first.
Your GP or pregnancy unit can tell you about counselling, and partners can get support too. Miscarriage UK's support line is 0303 003 6464 and Tommy's helpline is 0800 0147 800. Our article on the baby loss certificate explains one way to mark your loss in England.
Checklist
Your pregnancy-after-miscarriage checklist
A short list to work through at your own pace. Not every item will apply to you.
Wait until bleeding and pain have settled, and for a negative pregnancy test; if you were given a test to do at home, this is usually about 3 weeks after the miscarriage.
Gather scan reports, discharge letters and test results from last time.
Check whether a cause was found, book genetic counselling if a result needs explaining, and ask whether testing both partners' chromosomes is indicated.
After three or more miscarriages, or a loss from 14 weeks, ask your GP about referral for investigations.
Start folic acid and vitamin D, and review medicines and any long-term condition with your GP.
Save your early pregnancy unit's number, and know the symptoms that need a 999 call.
Decide when, and where, you would like your first scan.
Think about screening choices before you reach 10 weeks, and line up support for you and your partner.
London Pregnancy Clinic
How our team can help
We are a private clinic in the City of London and West London, working alongside your NHS care. Genetic counselling is by video, so you can join from home.
Before you try
Genetic counselling
Review past results and plan ahead with a registered genetic counsellor, through our partner Jeen Health. The booking button is for 30 minutes; a 60-minute session is £140.
After your first period
Post-miscarriage scan
A recovery scan and review after your first period, checking that the womb has returned to normal. It is not a scan to diagnose a miscarriage.
6 to 9 weeks
Viability scan
Your first scan next time, with a fetal medicine specialist: where the pregnancy is, the heartbeat, dating and the number of babies.
10 to 11 weeks
10-week scan
Can look at some major structures already visible at this stage; it does not replace your 11 to 14 week and 20 week scans.
Two or more losses
Recurrent miscarriage tests
A consultant gynaecologist consultation and pelvic scan, with bloods including APS markers and a thyroid profile. A £300 deposit to book is deducted from the total.
Complex histories
Clinical genetics consultation
For a known chromosome rearrangement or complex planning, with Dr Harry Leitch, Consultant in Clinical Genetics. Enquire to book.
Pregnancy after miscarriage: your questions
Is it safe to get pregnant again before my first period?
Usually, yes, if you are physically well, a pregnancy test has shown the last pregnancy has ended and you have not been advised to wait (for example after a molar or ectopic pregnancy). Tommy's and Miscarriage UK both say that conceiving before your next period does not increase the risk of miscarriage; the pregnancy may just be harder to date.
Do we need any tests before trying again after one miscarriage?
Usually not. Most early miscarriages are one-off events, and NHS investigations generally start after three miscarriages or a second-trimester loss, or sooner if a cause is suspected. If you would like to understand more after one loss, a genetic counselling appointment can help you decide whether any testing is worthwhile, and our guide to choosing a test sets out the options.
We never found out why we miscarried. Can we plan for testing next time?
Yes, and some couples find it helps to know their options in advance. If a future pregnancy were diagnosed as a miscarriage while still in the womb, a blood-based test may be possible privately before treatment, and pregnancy tissue can often be tested if it is collected and stored correctly. See testing before miscarriage treatment and pregnancy tissue testing.
When should I book my first scan in the next pregnancy?
Most NHS early scans happen at around 6 to 8 weeks, and before 6 weeks a scan may not give a clear answer. We suggest our viability scan at 6 to 9 weeks, with 7 weeks often the best time. If you bleed or have pain before your appointment, contact your early pregnancy unit rather than waiting. You can book a viability scan £140 online.
Is there anything my partner should do before we try again?
If your partner has a long-term condition or takes regular medicines, including herbal remedies, the NHS suggests they see a GP before you try. If the baby's biological father or one of his relatives has a neural tube condition, the NHS recommends the higher 5 mg dose of folic acid, which a GP can prescribe. Partners grieve too, and support is available for them.
How long might it take to get pregnant again?
Tommy's notes that some people conceive straight away after a miscarriage and others take longer. If you are 39 or under and have sex without contraception every 2 to 3 days, the NHS says you are likely to get pregnant within a year; see your GP if it has been a year or more.
About this information
This page is general information to help you plan. It cannot replace advice from your own doctor, midwife or genetic counsellor, who knows your history. If you are pregnant and have heavy bleeding, severe pain, a high temperature or feel faint, contact your early pregnancy unit or call NHS 111, and call 999 in an emergency.
Contact
Planning your next pregnancy?
Sources & clinical references
The figures and clinical statements on this page are drawn from the sources below. Guidance evolves — always discuss your individual circumstances with a clinician.
- NHSMiscarriage2026
- Tommy'sGetting pregnant after a miscarriage2026
- Tommy'sEarly pregnancy scans after a miscarriage2025
- Miscarriage UKThinking about another pregnancyAccessed October 2026
- NICEEctopic pregnancy and miscarriage (NG126): management of miscarriage2026
- NICEEctopic pregnancy and miscarriage (NG126): early pregnancy assessment services2026
- NHSTrying to get pregnant2026
- NHSVitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy2026
- RCOGRecurrent Miscarriage (Green-top Guideline No. 17)2023
- The Lancet (Quenby et al.)Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss2021
- GOV.UK (NHS screening programmes)Screening tests for you and your baby: Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome2026
- RCOGAmniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (Green-top Guideline No. 8)2021