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Pregnancy after chemical pregnancy: What to expect

Written by

Lucy Abrams-Husso

Lucy Abrams-Husso is an artist and academic who has been working as a researcher for nearly 10 years. Her own experience starting a family motivated her to want to work towards providing others with easy-to-understand, factual, and empathetic resources on topics in women's health, particularly fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. Lucy recently completed her doctorate degree at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki and is based in Helsinki, Finland.

Fact checked by

Dr. Danielle Perro

Prior to joining Natural Cycles as Medical Affairs Manager, Dr Danielle Perro was a women's health researcher and science communicator with over six years experience in the field. She earned a PhD from Oxford University, specializing in endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and pain in women. At Natural Cycles, she supports the science team and world-leading experts in the reproductive health space to conduct and deliver high-impact research that advances the field of women's health.

, Medical Affairs Manager

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At Natural Cycles, our mission is to empower you with the knowledge you need to take charge of your health. At Cycle Matters, we create fact-checked, expert-written content that tackles these topics in a compassionate and accessible way. Read more...

Last updated:

Nov 19, 2025

6 min read

Key takeaways

A chemical pregnancy is a type of early pregnancy loss that occurs when chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo communicate to your body that the pregnancy is not viable and development stops
While chemical pregnancies are not preventable, they have no effect on your ability to get pregnant again
After a chemical pregnancy, you can start trying to get pregnant again as soon as you feel ready

If you are trying to conceive (TTC), the wait for a positive pregnancy test can be an immensely emotional time. Experiencing a positive pregnancy test, only to have it turn negative after a couple of days, can feel like a major blow. In this article, we will talk about very early losses, before the fifth week of pregnancy, which are known as chemical or biochemical pregnancies. While experiencing a chemical pregnancy can feel like a major setback, many people who experience chemical pregnancies go on to have healthy, successful pregnancies.

Trying to conceive (TTC) after a chemical pregnancy

What is a chemical pregnancy?

A chemical, or biochemical, pregnancy is a type of miscarriage that occurs before the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy. Chemical pregnancies happen during the embryonic stage of pregnancy, when the embryo implants into the uterus but stops developing. When the embryo implants in your uterus, your body starts producing hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone). This is the hormone that is detected on a home pregnancy test. But when the embryo stops growing, hCG levels drop, and the pregnancy does not reach the stage where it can be seen on an ultrasound.

Because chemical pregnancies occur quickly after conception, it’s possible to experience a chemical pregnancy without even realizing it. You likely will only become aware you have had one if you take a positive pregnancy test, only to get a negative result a few days afterwards. In addition to a positive pregnancy test turning negative, other symptoms of a chemical pregnancy can include a heavier than normal period, more menstrual cramping than what’s normal for you, and early pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and breast changes going away [1].

What causes chemical pregnancy?

Chemical pregnancies are most often caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo. These are completely biologically random, and aren’t linked to issues with your fertility or chances of getting pregnant. Shortly after the embryo develops and starts growing, the body will realize that there is a fundamental genetic issue. The embryo will stop developing, leading to miscarriage. While abnormalities in the embryo’s chromosomes are considered the most common cause of chemical pregnancies, they can also be linked to hormone imbalances and low body weight [1].

It’s normal to feel a whole range of emotions after any kind of pregnancy loss, including a chemical pregnancy. It’s important to note that the vast majority of chemical pregnancies happen outside of our control

When can I expect my period after a chemical pregnancy?

After a chemical pregnancy, ovulation typically resumes in about two to six weeks [2]. You can expect to experience your period after about four to eight weeks, depending on the length of your cycle. Monitoring your basal body temperature is one way to help detect when you are ovulating, particularly if you have irregular periods. The FDA-cleared Natural Cycles app can help you track temperature while planning pregnancy, by keeping track of your temperature trends, notifying you on your most fertile days, and flagging the best time to take a pregnancy test.

When do you ovulate after a chemical pregnancy?

If you are TTC, the good news is that you might begin ovulating as soon as a couple of weeks after experiencing a chemical pregnancy [2]. You can begin trying to get pregnant again immediately, although it is also OK to take some time to emotionally recover from this loss.

How common are chemical pregnancies?

It might seem surprising, if you’ve only just heard of them, but chemical pregnancies are actually pretty common. Around a quarter of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, of which an estimated 50 to 75% are chemical pregnancies [3,4]. While chemical pregnancies often go unnoticed, advances in at-home pregnancy test technology have made it easier to detect pregnancies as early as 3 or 4 days before a missed period. Some researchers even estimate that as many as 50-60% of first-time pregnancies end in miscarriage, the majority as chemical pregnancies [5].

Commonality doesn’t make chemical pregnancies any easier to experience. Pregnancy losses can take an emotional toll, no matter what stage of the pregnancy they occur in. Early pregnancy losses, in particular, can be confusing and isolating, as they happen before you may have told anyone you’re pregnant, this can be compounded by the existing stigmas surrounding pregnancy loss. Choosing whom to share your experience with is entirely your decision, but it’s OK to seek support from those around you.

Experiencing a chemical pregnancy doesn’t signify anything about your general fertility. You may find it hopeful to know that most women who experience a chemical pregnancy but who are still TTC go on to have healthy pregnancies in the future.

Tips for getting pregnant after a chemical pregnancy

Everyone’s fertility journey is unique, and conception timing varies from person to person. That said, here are a few tips for getting pregnant after a chemical pregnancy that you can try:

While physical recovery after a chemical pregnancy can be fast, take as much time as you need to recover mentally and emotionally after experiencing a chemical pregnancy
Taking care of your overall health and well-being can support and help prepare you for TTC again.This includes getting enough sleep, reducing stress, eating healthy, and getting regular exercise [4]
Taking folic acid to prepare your body for pregnancy is recommended. You should speak with your health provider to help decide if taking prenatal vitamins or other supplements might be right for you [5]
Managing chronic conditions like thyroid problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can help you carry a healthy pregnancy [1]
Tracking your cycle to determine when you are ovulating may help you get pregnant sooner

How quickly can you get pregnant again after a chemical pregnancy?

You can try again to get pregnant as soon as you feel emotionally ready after experiencing a chemical pregnancy. Physically, it is possible to become pregnant again immediately, in as soon as 2-4 weeks, once hCG levels have gone back to zero and you ovulate [8]. Contrary to early recommendations that have suggested waiting 3 months to try again after an early pregnancy loss, recent studies have found that likelihood of a healthy pregnancy is just as likely if you try again right away, or wait any amount of time [2]. That said, waiting until you get your period before TTC can make it easier to date the pregnancy. Ultimately, however, it is completely up to you.

Getting pregnant after a chemical pregnancy with Natural Cycles

Thanks for reading up on the topic of pregnancy after chemical pregnancy. If you have experienced a chemical pregnancy and are still planning a pregnancy, figuring out when to start trying again can be a challenge. Did you know that Natural Cycles can help you? By logging your daily basal body temperature, NC° Plan Pregnancy tracks your fertility and lets you know on what days of your cycle you have the highest likelihood of conceiving. One recent study found that couples who use Natural Cycles to plan their pregnancy get pregnant in an average of 2 cycles [9].

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Schliep KC, Mitchell EM, Mumford SL, Radin RG, Zarek SM, Sjaarda L, Schisterman EF. Trying to Conceive After an Early Pregnancy Loss: An Assessment on How Long Couples Should Wait. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Feb;127(2):204-12. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001159. PMID: 26942344; PMCID: PMC4780347.
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Frequently asked questions

Chemical pregnancies do not adversely affect your overall fertility. If you experience a chemical pregnancy, you have the same likelihood of getting pregnant as you did before a chemical pregnancy., The fact that embryo implantation occurred is a good prognosis for a future healthy pregnancy [6].

Because chemical pregnancies are primarily caused by chromosomal abnormalities, there isn’t anything you can do to prevent one from occurring again. More than 85% of women who experience pregnancy loss go on to have a successful pregnancy [7].