Trying to conceive after pregnancy loss.

• Position: Mind & Body - Brief article

Couples who attempt to conceive within three months after losing an early pregnancy, defined as less than 20 weeks gestation, have the same chances, if not greater, of achieving a live birth than those who wait for three months or more, according to study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, which questions traditional advice that couples should wait at least three months after a loss before attempting a new pregnancy. The World Health Organization, Geneva. Switzerland, for instance, recommends waiting a minimum of six months between a pregnancy loss and a subsequent attempt.

"Couples often seek counseling on how long they should wait until attempting to conceive again," says senior author Enrique Schisterman, chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Md. "Our data suggests that women who try for a new pregnancy within three...