Dealing with a miscarriage is never easy, and it is natural to have all sorts of questions after you go through this devastating situation. Many people are confused about when to have sex after a miscarriage. It is quite a controversial topic actually. Some people think you can have sex as soon as you feel better emotionally, but others believe it is not safe to resume sexual activities soon after miscarriage. 

When Can I Have Sex After Miscarriage?

Typically, you should consider how long your pregnancy lasted before miscarriage. The longer it lasted, the longer you need to wait before resuming your sexual activities. If you miscarried within the first 3-4 months of pregnancy without experiencing any complications such as pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, fever, vaginal odor, or continued pregnancy symptoms, you can start having sex 2-3 weeks after your miscarriage. However, you need to wait for at least six weeks if you miscarried in the last five months of your pregnancy.

It is important to avoid sex if the bleeding continues. Your cervix should be closed completely before you start having sex again or else you may end up developing infections. Therefore, it makes great sense to see your doctor for a pelvic exam before having sex after miscarriage.

Recovery from a Miscarriage

Irrespective of when your miscarriage occurs during your pregnancy, it is important to discuss things with your healthcare provider to ensure you can have sex. You can also take some steps to promote recovery after your miscarriage.

1. Have Enough Rest

Be sure to take plenty of rest after this devastating event. Frequent siestas and vaginal rest are important and will help you maintain mental health. Paying attention to your diet along with taking enough rest will help accelerate physical recovery.

2. Avoid Infection

Never insert anything into your vagina for 2 to 4 weeks after your miscarriage to prevent infections. The same goes for taking baths, douches and swimming. What's more, use sanitary pads instead of tampons during this recovery phase.

3. Take Medications as Prescribed

Be sure to take all your medications according to your doctor's instructions. Certain medications such as antibiotics are prescribed to help prevent infections, while others help with pain management. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to prevent hemorrhaging, and these medications help your blood clot, which in turn prevents excessive bleeding. You need to take them exactly as prescribed. Do not drink alcohol during this phase because it makes your medications less effective.

4. Deal with Your Emotion

Miscarriage can be an extremely traumatic experience, and certainly you have to take time to get over the feeling of losing everything. It is normal to feel angry, sad, and irritable after miscarriage. You may also be blaming yourself or people around you. Just do not try to fight with what you feel and let those emotions come out. You may feel better by journaling your thoughts because it helps process your feelings. Just tell yourself that these feelings are only temporary.

Tips for Pregnancy After Miscarriage

Now you know when to have sex after miscarriage, then when is the time to get pregnant again? It is better to wait for 2-3 menstrual cycles after the miscarriage before trying to get pregnant again. This gives your body time to get ready and prepare for a new baby. Here are some tips to help you become pregnant after miscarriage.

1. Do Not Forget Your Prenatal Vitamins

You should take your prenatal vitamins, especially folic acid, as per the instructions of your doctor. Your baby is more likely to develop chromosomal defects if you do not have enough folic acid in your body. Taking these vitamins not only lowers your risk of having another miscarriage, it also ensures your baby stay healthy throughout the pregnancy. 

2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

• Stick to a healthy diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Women who include fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet lower their risk of miscarrying by 50 percent.
• Avoid harmful habits. You should avoid or at least limit your intake of caffeine during pregnancy. It is very important to give up heroin, nicotine, or any other illegal drugs to prevent miscarriages and other pregnancy complications. The same holds true for smoking and alcohol consumption. Quit these bad habits for a better pregnancy.
• Reduce stress. It is never easy but small steps like trying breathing exercises, taking a short, peaceful walk, reading your favorite book, or watching your favorite movie with your partner may help you forget about stressful situations in your life. Those little breaks can make a huge difference.
• Maintain a healthy sex life: Just like maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you need to maintain a healthy sex life to become pregnant again. You may not feel like having sex after miscarriage, but you need to think about getting another chance to raise a baby. Try to have sex at least three times a week to improve your chances of becoming pregnant. You can increase your chances of becoming pregnant by having sex at least 4 days before and the day on ovulation.