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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    When will my period return after a miscarrage?

    Related Topics
    Miscarriage Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Women's Health
    I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks and did not require a D&C it has been 4 weeks now and I have not had my period ? When will it return and when can I start trying again?
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    • Dr Gary Sykes
    • Dr David Moore
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    Dr Gary Sykes

    Obstetrician

    Dr Gary Sykes is a graduate Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B, B.S.) from Sydney University. He commenced his initial postgraduate training at … View Profile

    Sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

    You are waiting for your ovaries to start functioning normally after your miscarriage. This happens usually four to six weeks after the miscarriage.

    If it takes considerably longer than this, you will need professional gynaecological assessment and help. You may need to have an ovulation induction medication such as Clomiphene citrate.

    If you had a tendency to less frequent periods before you conceived then you may be reverting back to the same, and I suggest you have ovulation induction

    Usually the first period after a miscarriage is quite heavy, so don’t be alarmed.

    I advise my patients it is safe to start trying immediately after the first period. I advise you not to conceive before you have had a period.

    There is a lot of information about miscarriage on my website in the question and answer section and in the blog section.

    http://www.obstetricexcellence.com.au/questions-answers/miscarriage/

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    Dr David Moore

    Gynaecologist, Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist, Obstetrician

    David received a solid foundation to training in tertiary obstetric units and has developed skills in the management of complex and high-risk pregnancies and deliveries. … View Profile

    Hello,

    My condolences for your loss.

    When you are pregnant, one of the pregnancy hormones (called hCG, or measured in your blood as “beta-hCG”), among other actions, prevents you from ovulating.  After a miscarriage, it takes a little while for the level of hCG to fall enough for your ovaries to begin ovulating again.  Even low levels of the hormone effectively suppress ovulation.  How long it takes to fall does vary, and depends on how high it was to begin with, and how “complete” your miscarriage was.  It may fall faster after a D&C.  Your GP could request a beta-hCG test to ensure it is negative now, or at least falling.  There are rare causes of persistence of hCG, but these would be evidenced by an unusually high beta-hCG and your GP would refer you to a gynaecologist accordingly.

    It is also worth mentioning that it is possible to fall pregnant again before your next period so, if your beta-hCG is high and you've been sexually active since your miscarriage, your GP would arrange further tests/ultrasounds to clarify whether this is a new pregnancy.

    In terms of when to try again, I'd agree with my colleague above that waiting for your first period helps you “know your dates”.  Otherwise, there is no need to delay trying again any longer than is necessary for you and your partner to feel emotionally ready.

    Best of luck :)

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