Is there a connection between fertility and when period returns?

[Anonymous]

This is my question and I can't seem to find an answer: postpartum, is there a connection between general fertility and how quickly your period returns?

We did IVF to get DD (13 months) and my period has not returned, but I'm still nursing her about 4 times a day (not overnight). I know plenty of people whose periods returned much earlier and while nursing, but others whose period did not return until after weaning completely.

[Anonymous]

My period didn’t return until after 15 mos. DC was EBF until transitioning to solids, and STTN at 8 weeks. (No, we didn’t do any special training. I nursed to sleep until close to a year.)

Four years later, we decided to try for a second. Pulled the goalie and caught pregnant the first month. (FTR, this one woke every 2 hours for the first year.)

[Anonymous]

I got my period back 22 months postpartum - I was still BF a few times a day. I became pregnant almost immediately, despite a long time to conceive first time round.

I think there is some evidence that the longer it takes for your period to return, the sooner you will be ovulating again. Can't find the citation at the mo.

[Anonymous]

I got my period back 9 months postpartum w both my kids while still nursing 4-5 times per day as well as 1-2 times during the night. I also got pregnant first month trying both times.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think so. I didn’t get my period back until almost a year each time, and I got pregnant 4 times the first month trying (age 33 and up). I had one miscarriage and three children.

[Anonymous]

I always thought maybe the opposite.. I had trouble getting pregnant and my hormone labs have never been great for my age, I will probably have menopause around 45 (my mom was 46).. my period came back at 3.5 months with my first and 7 weeks with my second despite EBF around the clock with both.

[Anonymous]

My period came back at 10 months. And then I didn’t get it again for a 20 months because I got pregnant right away (despite hardly having sex)

[Anonymous]

I got my period at 8-9 months postpartum both times, as I was starting to wean and down to about 3 pumps a day. Got pregnant with second kid when older one was 14 months on second try. We needed IVF for the first. This feels like middle ground compared to everyone else?

[Anonymous]

My period came back at 9 months for my first while still breastfeeding (til 14 months) and it took 9 months to conceive #2, plus a loss earlier. Longer then it took baby #1.

Our sample doesn’t seem to show a trend.

[Anonymous]

First took four months to conceive. Got my period back four months after birth (while EBF!). Got pregnant with second on the first try when first was 15 months. No idea what correlation you’re looking for but this thread seems to skew NOT secondary infertility so far.

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant on the first try three times. My period came back after 15 months. I breast fed until 24 months.

[Anonymous]

I never got my period back until I completely weaned all 3 times. I got pregnant with baby #2 10 months after I had my first. No fertility issues.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. We also did fertility treatments. My period returned at 10 months, 13 months and I'm pregnant with 3 now. Getting pregnant was a huge struggle each time, so clearly I'm not very fertile. I've always had light periods, zero cramps and long cycles.

So for your question- I'm not fertile and it took a long time to return. I also was breastfeeding 100% and I also breastfed while pregnant too.

[Anonymous]

I dont think so. I didn’t get my period for 9 months after my 1st and even then it was very irregular. I actually got pregnant with my third before my period returned at all.

[Anonymous]

No, there is not.