Most people experience spotting and irregular periods after miscarriage. Here's when your cycle should return to normal, and when you're likely to ovulate again. Pregnancy loss is often a heartwrenching surprise. Although miscarriage is fairly common—it happens in roughly one out of every five known pregnancies—its frequency makes it no less painful. But whether you're trying for another baby right away or waiting until things calm down, there's one question you're likely to have: When will I get my first period after miscarriage? We've got the answers.
Typically, your period after miscarriage will be a bit unpredictable and could be a bit lighter or heavier than you expect. Generally, your regular period should return after about 2 months. However, before menstruation begins, you will bleed for a few weeks after the miscarriage. Learn more about your period after miscarriage.
After a miscarriage, your body expels the contents of your uterus. Early miscarriages (which happen within the first few weeks of pregnancy) will look and feel a lot like a regular period. Miscarriages around 6 to 7 weeks will resemble a particularly heavy period. Later miscarriages are more severe since your uterus has to flush out more fetal tissue and possibly some placenta.
Persistent spotting could last for several weeks after a miscarriage but should lighten up over time. If it doesn't or bleeding returns, call your OB-GYN. 'If you have a couple of days of no bleeding, heavy bleeding, then no bleeding, then heavy, there's likely something in the uterus,' says an OB-GYN and professor. See your doctor—she'll likely conduct an ultrasound to get a picture of what's going on and see if there's a clot or tissue. Most doctors prefer to let the body process the miscarriage without surgery, but your OB-GYN may need to perform a procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove any remnants if they aren't expelled on their own.
Many people see their period return four to six weeks after an early miscarriage, but for some (particularly those who experienced later miscarriages), it may take longer. That first period after a miscarriage may look different than before—a heavier flow, some spotting, or nothing at all—as your body recovers.
Just know that your cycle should return to your normal within two months, although it can also happen sooner, says a Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. During this timeframe, the uterine lining should go back to its pre-pregnancy state, and your levels of pregnancy hormone hCG will also drop.
If your cycle was irregular before the miscarriage, you'll likely have an unpredictable cycle after recovering from a miscarriage, too. If, on the other hand, your periods came like clockwork before the pregnancy, but they remain unpredictable a few months after a miscarriage, contact your OB-GYN.
Most people start ovulating again within one to two months after miscarrying. However, it's possible to begin ovulating within two weeks of a miscarriage if it happens during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Ovulation means pregnancy is possible, so take the proper precautions. A doctor recommends waiting a few months before trying to get pregnant again. The time off can help you figure out exactly when you're ovulating and allow you to heal from the pregnancy loss. However, while many doctors recommend waiting 3 to 6 months before trying to conceive, research shows that it's not necessary to wait. In fact, you may be more fertile in the first few months after your miscarriage.
What's more, you can have a false positive pregnancy test soon after a miscarriage, since your body might still contain higher levels of hCG. Your doctor might also falsely assume you're miscarrying for a second time if they detect dropping hCG levels from the first pregnancy during prenatal tests for a subsequent pregnancy.
Often, menstruation will resume about 2 months after miscarriage. However, this timetable may be slightly sooner or later depending on your individual circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns about your period after miscarriage, contact your doctor.
Sources:
Early Pregnancy Loss. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2023.
Bleeding pattern after medical management of early pregnancy loss with mifepristone-misoprostol and its prognostic value: a prospective observational cohort study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022.
Haemodynamic stability following adrenaline intracervical block for major haemorrhage during surgical management of late miscarriage: A case report. Case Rep Womens Health. 2022.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C). American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2022.
Trying to Conceive After an Early Pregnancy Loss: An Assessment on How Long Couples Should Wait. Obstet Gynecol. 2016.
