How Soon is too soon?
Many women and their partners have questions about what to do after a miscarriage. Besides figuring out how to cope with this loss, there are also questions like when is it safe to have sex again? In this short blog we’ll answer that question, explain what a miscarriage is, and give you a list of miscarriage side effects to ensure safe practices before and after sex.
What is a miscarriage?
Miscarriage is more common than you might think. In fact, it can occur in about 10% of known pregnancies, up to 1/3 of pregnancies in women over 40. It may be totally spontaneous or require medical and/or surgical interventions (i.e. medication, aspiration and/or a D & C-dilation and curettage).
Typical signs or symptoms of miscarriage are the following:
- heavy bleeding
- abdominal cramping pain (usually worse than your normal menstrual period)
- nausea
- diarrhea.
How soon after a miscarriage can I get pregnant again?
That being said, you could become pregnant again before you have an actual menstrual period. Additionally, if you do not want to become pregnant again but plan to have sex, use some type of birth control. There is no medical reason not to try to become pregnant again soon after a miscarriage. However, you might want to want to wait until after you have a normal menstrual period for better ability to predict fetal age of a subsequent pregnancy.
When is a good time to start having sex after my miscarriage?
It is usually recommended that you wait 1-2 weeks after bleeding has stopped to resume sex or put anything in your vagina, as you will be more at risk for infection during the time of bleeding. It is also worth mentioning that you can begin to ovulate as soon as 2 weeks after a miscarriage.
Always follow your MD’s advice or discharge instructions above any advice or recommendations given here as these are generalized and are not specific to your personal medical history.
How to know if I’m not ready
Call your OBGYN or go to an emergency room right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Heavy bleeding (soaking more than two maxi pads per hour for more than 2 hours in a row)
- Fever
- Chills
- Severe pain
Remember, a miscarriage comes with side effects, both physical and emotional. If you are having trouble talking to your partner how you feel or are afraid to tell him what you’re experiencing, talk to your OBGYN or schedule an appointment with a caring advocate here at the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center. Our services are free and confidential.