I miscarried in March at nine weeks. My doctor said it was okay to try again after I had one normal period. Is it possible to cause a second miscarriage by not waiting long enough after the first one?

-- Lizbeth

I advise my patients to wait at least one full normal menstrual cycle before they attempt conception again. First, this allows sufficient time for all hormone levels to fall to normal and for the uterine lining to regenerate itself. The second benefit is that it allows your physician to better predict the time of conception and estimate your due date during the next pregnancy. This is necessary to monitor the pregnancy and know whether you are going into labor too early or late the next time.