Data was taken between 1981 and 2000 and results showed that women who conceived within six months were less likely to have another miscarriage, termination or ectopic pregnancy

For those who went on to give birth, conceiving within six months was directly related to a reduced risk of having a Caesarean, a premature birth or a baby with a low birth weight compared with those women who had conceived between six months and a year.

The NHS Choices website advises waiting three months to give women time to come to terms with the loss and for their menstrual cycle to re-establish itself. However, the authors of the study have said that for older women, who are more at risk of miscarriage, delaying may actually hinder their chances of a successful pregnancy. The only reason women may need to delay is if they have had a complication such as infection.