Periods different after pregnancy. Still infertile?

[Anonymous]

I know nobody can answer this question, but I'm so curious I'll pose it anyway. I have an 18-month old conceived via IVF (6th try's the charm!). I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, and my egg quality was terrible despite my relative youth. For my entire life, before pregnancy, my periods have been very light. They were 3-4 days maximum, and only a pantiliner needed after the first day. After pregnancy, and after I stopped nursing much and my period came back, they are so different, and so much worse! Which makes me wonder if some substantial change has taken place in my reproductive system that might affect my fertility. I'm wondering if anyone else had this experience, and whether conceiving was easier the second time. We haven't started trying yet but are planning to soon.

[Anonymous]

I have heard of people getting pregnant naturally after needing ART for the first. More often the initial issue was MFI. Anyway all you can do is try! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My dr said she's had so many patients who had trouble but after they had a successful live birth they were able to get pregnant in a quick (normal) timeframe the second time.

[Anonymous]

I also had an IVF baby, unexplained infertility and wonky periods. My periods were followed by light brown spotting for five plus days. I know it isn't normal to have five days of spotting following a period. But of course no doctor knows what this means. I think your memstrual cycle prepregnancy did indicate there's some sort of problem and somehow things have normalized now. I would be careful unless you want to get pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Yes, this is surprisingly common. My SIL went through many rounds of IVF to have her daughter, and then got pregnant with my nephew right away- he was born ten months later! They had assumed they didn't need contraception- surprise!

[Anonymous]

6 tries for my IVF baby and got pregnant again first month trying on our own. I had very light periods too but it never returned after weaning since I got pregnant right away. I was unexplained infertility.

[Anonymous]

Your periods being worse isn't an indication of your fertility. It's actually pretty common for periods to come back heavier, with more cramping and bleeding. This was true for me and for several friends and has been noted on some of the other forums on this board.

That said, it's not unheard of that women who used ART the first time get pregnant naturally the second time. Good friend of mine got pregnant with #2 the first month she got her period back. This after 7 years of TTC, 4 failed IUIs, and 3 IVFs to conceive her first child.