Expert: Pat G - 2/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: My girl friend had a miscarriage on Jan 22 at 5 and 1/2 months (still born). We had sex on feb 4th, and she is now complaining of symptoms that sound like she is pregnant.  Is this possible? I have talked to a number of gyns that seems to think that it is unlikely that it possible to get pregnant that fast due to hormone levels following the pregnancy. I am curious of your thoughts.

ANSWER: Hello, russ,

Well, it's not likely, but it's not impossible, just very rare, for a woman's fertility to return that fast. I say it's not impossible, because I know of cases where a woman has conceived a second child while pregnant with a first. I now know of three such cases. It may be more common than we think but my guess is that doctors who don't know this is possible can destroy the evidence inadvertently, and then they don't tell anybody.

Usually, the pregnancy hormones fall somewhat slowly, but in the case of a miscarriage, they could be already low, and this is why your girlfriend had a miscarriage in the first place. Also, I don't think she'd be displaying symptoms of pregnancy quite this early, but that depends in part on how sensitive she is to her own body. I think it's entirely possible that the gyns aren't taking into account that hormone levels dropping is a major cause of miscarriage. That said, 5 1/2 months is fairly far along, and the hormone levels will be considerably higher to begin with.

The only way you are going to find out is wait and see. It's a little early for a pregnancy test, but she could take one in about a week and a half. If it's negative, she should retest in a week.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you are facing any problems if she is pregnant, and I'll see what I can do to help. I don't know your situation, but hopefully you will make sure she doesn't take any risks. Please take good care of her.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Couple more things, is there anything besides pregnancy that could cause pregnancy symptoms?(nausea, smell sensitivity, breast tenderness and fatigue) If she is pregnant, is she at a higher risk for miscarriage because of condition of uterine lining?  Is there any higher risk for birth defects getting pregnant that fast?

Answer
Hello, russ,

Leftover pregnancy hormones could cause these things. She shouldn't have been experiencing nausea at 5 1/2 months anyway. Even though the hormones were probably considerably less than they should have been, this doesn't mean that there weren't enough to keep the body reacting as if it is pregnant. And by the way, a good remedy for nausea is ginger tea.

I'm not aware that getting pregnant that fast would result in any problems. However, I do know that trying to stop the pregnancy because there MIGHT be problems would be medically unwise. It could have a much more serious impact on a future pregnancy. So if she is pregnant, that's just the way things are. Go with it, and the outcome is likely to be favorable. There are plenty of women who had a baby that soon after miscarriage, and nobody is the worse for the wear. If there is likely harm, it will probably happen earlier rather than later.

See if the symptoms subside, and test a couple of times a week apart, and see if the positive is less certain after awhile. You'll just have to wait and see what happens. Make sure she has a good doctor and she eats well and takes her vitamins.

Please keep in touch and let me know what happens.