Time to pregnancy after a previous miscarriage in subfertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the time to spontaneous ongoing pregnancy after a previous miscarriage in subfertile couples.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study.


METHODS
The study was conducted in 38 fertility centers in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Subfertile couples who miscarried after completing their basic fertility work-up.


METHODS
Expectant management after a miscarriage.


METHODS
Spontaneous ongoing pregnancy.


RESULTS
We included 5,663 subfertile couples, of which 1,098 (19%) conceived spontaneously. Among these 1,098 couples, 199 (18%) miscarried and these couples were included in the present study. Follow-up was completed for 171 couples, of which 95 conceived again within 24 months of follow-up. Of these 95 pregnancies, 86 (91%) were ongoing. The cumulative spontaneous ongoing pregnancy rate (PR) after 24 months was 70% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59%-81%).


CONCLUSIONS
Subfertile couples, who experience a treatment-independent pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage, have very good prospects of a spontaneous ongoing pregnancy in the near future. This information is useful in counseling couples who had a miscarriage after a previous period of subfertility.
Cox
Tessa
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. T.Cox@antonius.net
van der Steeg
Jan-Willem
JW
Steures
Pieternel
P
Hompes
Peter G A
PG
van der Veen
Fulco
F
Eijkemans
Marinus J C
MJ
van Leeuwen
Jules H Schagen
JH
Renckens
Cees
C
Bossuyt
Patrick M M
PM
Mol
Ben W J
BW
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors