Timing after miscarriage on second preganancy outcome

January 01, 0001

Timing after miscarriage on second preganancy outcome

These Scottish researchers sought to determine the optimum interpregnancy interval after miscarriage for a successful second pregnancy. They performed a population based retrospective cohort study looking at 30 937 women in Scottish hospitals who had a miscarriage in their first recorded pregnancy and subsequently became pregnant.

The researchers found: "Compared with women with an interpregnancy interval of 6-12 months,those who conceived again within six months were less likely to have another miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio 0.66), termination (0.43), or ectopic pregnancy (0.48). Women with an interpregnancy interval of more than 24 months were more likely to have an ectopic second pregnancy (1.97) or termination (2.40). Compared with women with an interpregnancy interval of 6-12 months, women who conceived again within six months and went on to have a live birth in the second pregnancy were less likely to have a caesarean section (0.90), preterm delivery (0.89), or infant of low birth weight (0.84) but were more likely to have an induced labour (1.08)."

The researchers concluded: "Women who conceive within six months of an initial miscarriage have the best reproductive outcomes and lowest complication rates in a subsequent pregnancy."

This large study suggests that there are better outcomes following miscarriage if conception occurs within the first 6 months

For the full abstract, click here.

BMJ 341:c3967, 5 August 2010
© 2010 Love et al.
Effect of interpregnancy interval on outcomes of pregnancy after miscarriage: retrospective analysis of hospital episode statistics in Scotland. Eleanor R Love, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Norman C Smith, Sohinee Bhattacharya. Correspondence to Sohinee Bhattacharya: [email protected]

Category: W. Pregnancy, Family Planning. Keywords: miscarriage, pregnancy, conception, interval, live birth, retrospective cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 19 October 2010

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