Health Discoveries in General Health News
Pregnancy soon after miscarriage carries fewer risks
August 12, 2010
Scottish researchers have found that women who get pregnant within six months after suffering a miscarriage have the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy with few complications.
Their findings, published online in the British Medical Journal, contradict the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends that women wait at least six months after a miscarriage before conceiving again.
"This research will help healthcare providers to counsel women regarding timing of future pregnancies and will allow couples to make informed choices based on hard evidence," said Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya, of the University of Aberdeen. However, she said the WHO guidelines may still apply to women in developing countries.
The research team reviewed the cases of nearly 31,000 women seen in Scottish hospitals who had miscarriages in their first pregnancy, then became pregnant again from 1981 to 2000. Although at higher risk for induced labor, those who got pregnant within six months were less likely to miscarry again, to require pregnancy terminations or to have an ectopic pregnancy, compared with women who got pregnant six to 12 months after their miscarriage.
Within the North Shore-LIJ Health System, both North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center are Regional Perinatal Centers (RPCs) for high-risk obstetrical and neonatal management.
Their findings, published online in the British Medical Journal, contradict the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends that women wait at least six months after a miscarriage before conceiving again.
"This research will help healthcare providers to counsel women regarding timing of future pregnancies and will allow couples to make informed choices based on hard evidence," said Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya, of the University of Aberdeen. However, she said the WHO guidelines may still apply to women in developing countries.
The research team reviewed the cases of nearly 31,000 women seen in Scottish hospitals who had miscarriages in their first pregnancy, then became pregnant again from 1981 to 2000. Although at higher risk for induced labor, those who got pregnant within six months were less likely to miscarry again, to require pregnancy terminations or to have an ectopic pregnancy, compared with women who got pregnant six to 12 months after their miscarriage.
Within the North Shore-LIJ Health System, both North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center are Regional Perinatal Centers (RPCs) for high-risk obstetrical and neonatal management.