Can D&C affect cycle and conception chances?

Hi all, I'm new to this group.  I figured it would be helpful to communicate with other people that are in the same boat as me.  I miscarried almost a year ago and had a D & C March 2, 2011.  After grieving for a few months, my husband and I decided to try again.  We started in August and I have been BBT charting every month.  I have noticed that I spot brown discharge for up to two days before my regular red flow of my period starts.  Once the flow starts it is extremely heavy the first day.  I did not notice my cycle being that way before.  Also I thought that my luteal phase was short and I consulted my Dr.  She tested my progesterone during the luteal phase and she said that the levels are normal.  It has been 6 months now and I am very dicouraged because I just started my period again today.  I can't help but wonder if there might be scarring due to the D&C that could be causing problems?  I so badly want to be pregnant again.

[jjenkins112]

Hi -
I'm very sorry for your loss. I have lost 3 babies due to miscarriage over the course of 3 years TTC #1, with the 2nd m/c requiring a D&C in March 2010. I became pregnant again in Sept. 2010, but that also ended in m/c at 5 weeks. I BBT charted and used the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor for all of my pregnancies with the exclusion of the very 1st pregnancy in Oct. 2009. I was put on progesterone suppositories, even though my progesterone tested normally, and took low dose baby aspirin, even though I had no clotting disorders. Actually, all of my tests and all of my husband's tests were normal, with the exclusion of my having slightly elevated FSH and estradiol (estrogen) levels. After the 3rd loss, we went the route of fertility drugs and IUI, but all failed. We abandoned Western medicine after all the failures and I began weekly acupuncture in Feb. 2011.

I tell you all of this because, today, at 40 years old, I am currently 22 weeks and 2 days pregnant with a healthy baby boy. It took me a full year after my last miscarriage (a full 18 months after my D&C) to become successfully pregnant. So, believe me, although I know 6 months of TTC seems like an eternity, in the scheme of things it really is a very short period of time. As such, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you have scarring as a result of the D&C. That said, I would highly recommend having a full workup of fertility testing to rule out any issues that may be hampering your ability to become pregnant.

I wish you all the luck in the world. Miracles do happen - I'm living proof! Blessings and Baby Dust...

[jjenkins112]

p.s. My normal cycle is a 25-day cycle...I occasionally had spotting mid-cycle and/or just before getting my period. Just cycle quirks, nothing more.

[Didie78]

Thank you so much for the response and sharing so much.  It is so nice to hear that there are happy endings after so much heart-ache.  You are right that six months seems like an eternity, even though it is a short time.  I am really trying to stay patient.  I have been charting and using the OPK's and it is very frusterating every month to get a period.  I am going to request a full work up of fertlity testing from my Dr.  My husband has been tested and levels are normal for him.  I know it does take some patience, but it would be nice to know that there is not anything else hampering my chances.  I might add that I am 33, and it was discovered in Feb 2011 with my 1st pregnancy that I miscarried that my thyroid is slightly off.  I have been prescribed medication because it wasn't producing enough hormone.  I have had my levels tested by my gyno and they were normal, but I am going to see my endocrinologist soon.  I will update any progress.  Congratualtions on your pregnancy!

[jjenkins112]

I am more than happy to share my experiences in the hopes it may help someone else. I know I felt very alone (and shocked) with my losses. I'm not sure why there is such a stigma about infertility, but it is certainly nothing to be ashamed of - it's very complicated to make a baby!

Once I started to share my story, I found out a lot of people had similar stories which was very comforting and helpful, in that we could share advice regarding different tests and options, etc.. I highly recommend the Clearblue Fertility Monitor (I never had much luck with the OPK strips) and it's great that you're going to to your RE for a full workup. The more informed your are the better. And I will be happy to share with you anything I did in my quest for regnancy success (testing, supplements, alternative medicine, etc.) so please don't hesitate to ask!

[lisha1201]

needed to read your story this am. im feelin so discouraged after ttc 2 yrs after mc. no luck yet. starting to feel like giving up on the whole thing. glad someone is getting bfp after struggling ttc. congrats on your lil blessing

[jjenkins112]

Hi lisha1201 -

First I want to say how sorry I am that you had to suffer a miscarriage. I know all too well how heartbreaking that is. That said, I don't want you to give up hope! You're still young, and that is a big advantage on your side (I did not start TTC #1 until I was 37 and my husband was 43). If you're very serious about becoming pregnant and if you haven't done so already, I would recommend getting a full work-up by your ob-gyn to rule out any medical issues that may be impeding your ability to get pregnant again. You were pregnant once, so you know your body can do it, which is another advantage on your side!

If there are no medical issues, then my next recommendation would be to track your ovulation using BBT charting (I used the free charting available on www.TCOYF.com) and using the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor. There actually is a very small window of opportunity to get pregnant each month, so knowing when you're ovulating is very important so you know when you should be having sex. I also read a lot of books on TTC (including Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which was very helpful).

For me, after 3 years and 3 miscarriages and loads of testing and failed [expensive] fertility treatments and no answers, I was a complete stress case. Stress is not a good thing when you're TTC, so after a lot of encouragement from family and friends, I decided to try acupuncture. It made ALL the difference for me in significantly reducing my stress and I credit acupuncture and herbs, and yoga, with helping me finally conceive again, at age 39 no less! So I would encourage you not to give up hope on your dream of having a baby.

If I can help in any way by sharing more of my story and the steps I took to get pregnant (e.g., books read, supplements taken. etc.) I'll be happy to share. Wishing you all the luck and prayers in the world in your journey to pregnancy!

[lisha1201]

well come to find out i was pregnant & didnt know it wen i wrote that post back in feb. got my BFP on feb16. but unfortunately miscarried that baby as well. went in for routine checkup & to hear baby's heartbeat only to find out baby had passed away a week prior.

ive charted for the past 2yrs offf &on so i know im ovulationg. and like u said i know i can get pg so that encouraging...its jus STAYING pg where the propblem comes in. the pathology report on last baby showed it had chromosonal issues. baby could have survived but would have had turners syndrome.

now the problem is hubby still thinks nothings wrong. doesnt want to go to specailist & wants to continue to try naturally. this has been a major issue in our marriage. we are at 2 ends of the spectrum. im panicing, stressed & almost desperate for baby, husband is so nonchalant & not worried. thinks we are young(im 30, he's 33) so we are fine. idk wat to do bc i cant MAKE him go and i dont see the point of me goin by myself. want the emotional support of my husband & also really want him to be tested cause at this point ive been through some basic testing & nothings wrong wit me. idk wat to do :-(

[Didie78]

Lisha, I can directly identify with you when you say your husband is not trying as hard.  I had to really pull teeth to get my husband to finally get tested.  The problem with him also is that he is a retired Veteran and although he has a great job that offers great health insurance, he refuses to sign up for it because he says he gets free healthcare from the VA.  So he went down to the VA to get tested (they take FOREVER!) and my OBGYN recommended for him to get tested at a different lab of her preference where she trusted.  After a couple of months of resistance, he finally went and come to find out, his semen analyis came back abnormal.  All along the VA has been telling him that his sperm is fine and can get me pregnant.  He finally went to the recommended lab and paid out of pocket for it and come to find out, yes the sperm is fine, but the semen quality is questionable.  The semen is thick and does not liquefy as much causing the sperm not to swim properly and also they clump together.  At this rate, no wonder they can't get to my egg.  Also his PH level is low so they probably don't even live as long as they need too.   All my testing has come up normal and my doc feels that his abnormal results are what is preventing us from getting pregnant easily.  She said it is fixable and she recommended a urologist of course to her liking for him to go see but of course the stubborness has set in again and he wants to go see a urologist at the VA.  Of course this revalation came after an argument about how nothing is wrong because the VA says.  I want to say screw the VA!!  he thinks it is a waste of money to go elswhere since the stupis VA is free.  They are super slow to send out refferals.  

Anyhow, I totally understand how you feel about the husband not being motivated to get checked, etc.  He says he wants a baby but thinks it is just going to happen again because it happened before.  I am not getting any younger.  I will be 34 next week and still have not had a child.  We have been married for almost 3 years now and been TTC for a year now since the miscarriage.  I am convinced that he is the problem since he is the only one with abnormalities.  

Keep trying to convince your husband to get tested.  50% of the problem is the man!