How soon do you ovulate after a miscarriage?

Ovulation after miscarriage can occur within the initial few weeks. Miscarriage can cause adverse effects on both your physical and emotional health. If you were trying to get pregnant, then getting pregnant again is the best way to heal the loss.

If you are confused as to how soon you will ovulate after a miscarriage, how to track signs of ovulation after a miscarriage, and more such questions, continue reading the article.

{{button}}

How soon do you ovulate after a miscarriage?

Ovulation after miscarriage may occur within the initial two weeks. After implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine lining, the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rise. The latter is a vital hormone that maintains pregnancy, and its levels increase during the first trimester. The process of ovulation stops during pregnancy due to the increased levels of hCG.

The levels of hCG drop if you have a miscarriage (usually within a couple of weeks). However, the exact decreased value of hCG that allows ovulation after miscarriage varies in different people and cannot be predicted.

When do you ovulate after a miscarriage? Chances are that you may ovulate within two weeks after a miscarriage; however, the fluctuating hormones may delay the ovulation up to three to four weeks post a miscarriage.

How does miscarriage affect your menstrual cycle?

In most women, vaginal bleeding due to an early miscarriage stops within a week. The bleeding may take longer to resolve if you had a miscarriage during the second trimester or late first trimester.

You may also notice slight spotting for a few weeks (4 weeks) post a miscarriage. As the vaginal bleeding stops and the hormones get back to normal, the menstrual cycle also resumes.

The periods return within four to six weeks in many women after a miscarriage. The first day of bleeding due to the miscarriage is counted as Day 1 of your menstrual cycle. Your periods may become predictable after several menstrual cycles, as your hormones stabilize after the miscarriage.

Signs of ovulation after miscarriage

Look for the following signs of ovulation after a miscarriage:

• Clear, stretchy vaginal mucus that looks like egg whites
• Tenderness in the breasts
• Abdominal cramping
• Bloating
• Light spotting or vaginal bleeding
• Mood changes
• Increased libido (sex drive)

Tracking ovulation after a miscarriage

Apart from keeping a check on the signs of ovulation after a miscarriage mentioned above, you can also track ovulation by:

Tracking the changes in your basal body temperature (BBT)

To check the BBT, you can either use an oral thermometer (digital) or a basal body thermometer. Note to take the temperature with the same thermometer every time. Measure the temperature every morning at the same time, ideally even before you get out of bed.

Record your temperature daily. Tracking the changes in the basal body temperature can help you determine ovulation after a miscarriage. For most women, there will be a slight increase in BBT of about 0.5 to 1.0 degrees when ovulation happens. The temperature returns to normal a couple of days before the beginning of periods.

The chances of getting pregnant are the highest one or two days before the increase in temperature.

Testing the luteinizing hormone in your urine

When do you ovulate after a miscarriage? Another method to determine ovulation after a miscarriage is to test the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your urine. An increase in the LH levels causes the ovary to release an egg.

The levels of LH typically start rising about 36 hours before the occurrence of ovulation after miscarriage. You can buy an ovulation predictor kit either online or from a pharmacy. The kit contains several test strips that you can dip in the urine to detect an increase in LH. You may have to test LH in your urine for a few days before detecting a surge that indicates ovulation after a miscarriage.

Using an app to track ovulation

There are various online ovulation tracking apps or ovulation calculators that may help predict the occurrence of ovulation after a miscarriage. These apps work by using the lengths of your previous menstrual cycles.

When is it safe to conceive after a miscarriage?

According to the World Health Organization, you should wait for a minimum of six months after a miscarriage before conceiving again. This is, according to them, to decrease the risk of:

• Maternal anemia
• Low birth weight
• Preterm birth

However, some other research suggests that getting pregnant within six months of miscarriage may reduce the risk of:

• Preterm birth
• Another miscarriage
• It also increases the possibility of a live birth.

Experts advise that if you want to get pregnant again immediately after a miscarriage, you should wait for a minimum of one menstrual cycle; i.e., after you get your first period. This also makes it easier for you to calculate a more accurate due date.

Risk of future miscarriage

The odds of having a miscarriage are:

• 14 percent chance of having a miscarriage post one miscarriage
• 26 percent chance of having a miscarriage post two miscarriages
• 28 percent chance of having a miscarriage post three miscarriages

However, various other factors may raise the risk of a future miscarriage, including:

• Increased age
• Low body weight
• An extended time gap between the future pregnancy and the current miscarriage

How can you decrease your risk?

• Quit smoking
• If underweight, reach a healthy weight and maintain it
• Reduce stress
• Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet rich in fresh veggies and fruits

Effects of miscarriage on fertility

Having a miscarriage usually does not cause any change in your fertility. But if you developed an infection or if a miscarriage involved multiple procedures, your uterus may be scarred, reducing fertility. This condition is referred to as Asherman syndrome.

Asherman syndrome more commonly occurs in women who have had a dilatation and curettage or D&C post miscarriage (especially miscarriage during the later trimester of pregnancy).

Furthermore, miscarriage may not affect your fertility by itself, but certain underlying health conditions may do so. The miscarriage may be the result of these conditions. Some of these conditions are:

• Genetic disorders (in either your partner or you) that increase the risk of having chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage.
• Certain other medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or cervical or uterine problems. If you have any of these health issues, consult your doctor for support.

When should you consult a physician about fertility?

Most of the miscarriages occur as random events, and several women have healthy pregnancies after a miscarriage. However, you should consult a physician about fertility if:

• You are 35 years of age or younger and have not gotten pregnant within one year of a miscarriage
• You are more than 35 years of age and are not pregnant within six months of a miscarriage
• You have fertility issues from the beginning

Furthermore, after a miscarriage, consult your physician if:

• If you notice heavy vaginal bleeding
• If you suffer from fever after a miscarriage, it may be a sign of a uterine infection
• If you have a history of recurrent miscarriages (the doctor may check for issues such as genetic disorders that may be the cause)

FAQs

Will your period after a miscarriage be any different?

Your period may become heavier, longer, or delayed than usual after a miscarriage. This again varies in different women. However, periods should return to normal by the third menstrual cycle after a miscarriage. It is best to talk to your physician if you notice any irregular vaginal bleeding or require any other support and advice.

What to do to increase the chance of conceiving after a miscarriage?

To increase the chances of conceiving after a miscarriage, you should do the following:

• Have sex (unprotected) regularly—every day or alternate days
• Have sex when you are most fertile (during the fertile window)
• Modify your lifestyle to increase fertility (maintain a healthy weight, take care to prevent STIs/sexually transmitted infections, do not work during a night shift, avoid smoking and alcohol, limit caffeine, and avoid toxins)

Conclusion

Ovulation after a miscarriage may occur during the initial two weeks after a miscarriage. This implies that you may get pregnant even without having a period after a miscarriage. The drop in the levels of hCG after a miscarriage helps in resuming ovulation, though the exact timing of ovulation after a miscarriage varies in different women.

Signs of ovulation after a miscarriage include breast tenderness, changes in cervical mucus, abdominal bloating, cramping, spotting, increased libido, and mood changes. How to track ovulation after a miscarriage? You can track ovulation after a miscarriage by monitoring basal body temperature, using fertility apps, and using ovulation predictor kits to determine LH surges.

It is recommended to wait for a minimum of one menstrual cycle before getting pregnant again after a miscarriage. The risk of a future miscarriage increases slightly with each loss; however, most of the women have healthy babies after a miscarriage.

A single miscarriage generally does not affect fertility; however, complications such as uterine scarring or underlying medical issues may impact fertility. Consult your doctor if you are worried about your fertility or have any other concerns.

{{pink-banner}}