Cycles after Chemical Pregnancy - Experiences?

[lonelily312]

Hi everyone,

I'm 34 and DH and I have been TTC since November. I came off the mini pill in October after 17 years(!) and my cycles immediately returned to 29 days like clockwork (lucky!). In January we began using the Clearblue Digital OPKs.

After some strong early symptoms I had a positive pregnancy test on 3rd February, two days before AF was due. I then had some spotting, followed by two days of bleeding, then spotting for a further 3 days. After talking with EPU, they felt it was possibly a CP and advised me to test again in a week and to contact them if the test remained positive. Eventually returned a negative test on 11th February, confirming CP. I would have been 5w+2.

I counted the bleeding as Day 1 of a new cycle, as I'd read this is what you should do, and I was advised we could try again straight away, if we wanted to. However, in that cycle I didn't get my peak until Day 24 (vs. Day 16 previous cycle) which threw us a little bit so we hadn't been dtd in the lead up as I thought I wasn't going to peak.

My next AF appeared exactly four weeks after my negative pregnancy test (5 weeks since Day 1 of my CP bleed) and 11 days post ovulation. It was a little more painful than normal and slightly heavier but a similar length to usual.

I'm now back to tracking with OPKs and was praying I might have returned to normal, expecting to see a peak either yesterday (CD16) or today (CD17) but that infuriating flashing smiley is still at it!

What were other's experiences of cycle changes following a chemical pregnancy? At what point should be thinking about contacting my doctor if my cycle remains lengthened by my luteal phase remains at 11 days - this seems a bit on the shorter end vs. the 14 days I had previously? Is there anything I can do to lengthen this/bring forward ovulation?!

I've bought a BBT thermometer and plan to start charting next cycle to confirm ovulation but really I just want to know what others have experienced after a CP.

Thanks!

Hi OP I'm sorry about your loss. I've had several very early losses, last one being in my last cycle. I've used OPKs past 2 cycles, I didn't see a peak in my last cycle and I assume it happened after I stopped testing because it was so late. This cycle I persevered and have had peaks on CD19 and CD20, a lot later than I would normally expect. I assume this will push my period to be due a lot later than normal. 11 days is considered okay I think.

There's a supplement called soya isoflavones and there's a lot of threads about taking it to improve ovulation and bring it forward so I recommend researching them. I am planning on taking them next cycle if nothing happens in my current cycle. I'll share the link to the thread that was shared with me that's got other people's experiences

I can't say for sure that the chemical delayed my ovulation but it's the only explanation I can think of.

Tbh I don't know if your doctor will do anything to help with this but it won't hurt trying if you think they might.

I don't chart myself but that should definitely help pinpoint your ovulation.

Here's the link that was shared with me about other women's experience of taking isoflavones go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a12154345/bfps-with-soy-isoflavones

Thanks, @choccrumpet and I'm so sorry for your losses.

I hadn't even heard of CPs before February. I feel fortunate that we were able to conceive after such a short period of trying but from researching since the loss and realising how common these are, I think I will find it difficult to relax and celebrate any future positive results. It's so hard, especially when it feels like everyone around me is announcing pregnancies or giving birth.

I had seen Soya Isoflavones mentioned on other threads, so will read up on these. Thank you for the link - there are lots of really positive experiences from what i've read so far!

I'm not convinced doctor will be interested at this stage - I think I will hold off and seek further advice if my cycles remain changed/irregular and we are still TTC in July.

@lonelily312 unfortunately I had to learn about CPs too soon when we started ttc. They are very common, more common than people realise and I'm sure a lot go undetected. It's worth telling your GP about this as it is still a loss so they can take note of it, if you haven't done so already.

I agree, we've had so many faint positive tests that I'd need to see a dark line before I let myself feel any kind of hope now and even then it just feels scary. It is really difficult going forward but I also don't want to not celebrate future early pregnancies because of things going wrong before.

They seem to work well for women who have issues with ovulation so I am looking forward to trying them in my next cycle.

You can ask for basic tests like bloods, ultrasound referral etc from your GP if you feel like something isn't quite right. Push them for it if you feel strongly about doing some investigations. But there's not much else they can do as far as I know. Mine just keeps telling me to keep trying, although I am waiting for a recurrent miscarriage appointment. There's nothing else we can do now unless we go private.

Hey, sorry to hear about your CP. The GP may see you just for some initial blood tests. They saw me around cycle #7.
I had my AF on 27th of Feb. Then on CD9, i had some cramping and spotting. Turns out i was pregnant. This this resulted i a very early miscarriage. My AF hasnt arrived yet and im not sure whether i calculate CD1 when i spotted or from the first date of last AF.
I did an OPK today and it was positive. Im not really to sure whats going on and this is the first time experiencing this and i have been TTC for around 9 months.
Any advice would be great.
Thankyou

Sorry to hear about your CP OP.

I'm similar to you, came off BC in October- now on cycle 6 of ttc but only due to some short cycles.

I had a CP in January.. the AF following it was delayed and more heavy/painful than normal, and since then my following two cycles were really short, 25 days and 18 days, and I think anovulatory. So looks like the cp has messed things up.

I'm now on third cycle since CP and got EWCM today on cd14 so I'm hoping things might be back to normal this month finally 🤞 I've taken raspberry leaf tea, grapefruit juice around ovulation, EPO, ubiquinol and folate this cycle as well as starting acupuncture (throwing everything at it now 🤷🏻‍♀️) so I'm hoping one of those extra things has made a difference.

Sending you baby dust 😘

@Fizzybelts sorry to hear about your loss. That's good to know about docs. I have been keeping a diary of our cycles as well as tracking on apps so if we get to the summer and there are further CPs or issues with cycles, i'll approach doctor for bloods and initial tests. I'll be cycle 9 and nearer 35 then too, which would hopefully work in my favour.

I used my first day of proper bleeding of the CP as day 1 of the new cycle as I had read this was correct - I had been spotting before my BFP, which I thought was implantation bleed, which continued for a further 2 days after testing before 'proper' bleeding began on the day of my expected period. This lasted 2 days, then two more days of spotting. It then took a further 5-6 days before I returned a negative test but I didn't have any further spotting or bleeding after BFN until next AF.

Counting the first day of proper bleeding as CD1, I had a five week cycle that month as opposed to my usual 29 days. I'm now on my second cycle after the CP and haven't detected an LH surge yet (now CD18), but will update if it or AF appears! I would imagine you would use the 27th Feb as your Day 1 of previous cycle, rather than the spotting.

@Emmgrem i'm sorry for your loss. I feel like the impact on subsequent cycles just adds insult to injury. I'm feeling really frustrated, despite there being lots of hopeful research around increased fertility in the months after CP/early miscarriage.

I have just ordered ubiquinol for DH and I after reading 'It Starts with the Egg' and some additional supplements to up the dosage of other vitamins I already get through my conception vits - specifically Vit C, D and E. I will need to investigate the tea and juice though if we don't have luck this cycle!

Sending baby dust to you all and thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It's rubbish we are in this boat but reassuring to know others have had similar experiences with their cycles.

@lonelily312 I am sorry you have to go through this!
I had a mc in November, and I haven't ovulated till February. I had LH surges, peaks every month in different days, but the actual ovulation never happened. Finally ovulated last month, got pregant again ( ended up being a chemical pregnancy) I have asked my doctor for ultrasound and blood test as I was really worried. As it turned out, my iron levels were really low..even though I was taking multivitamins( contained iron) and iron tablets separately ( I'm a vegetarian). My levels still came back really low...the doctor put me on a stong iron tablet ( 3 times a day).
Still don't know if there is any connection between the two, but I am happy I've managed to beg them to take some test.
They do not investigate until you had 3mc, but you can make them take a scan and a blood test🙂

@lonelily312

Thankyou for your reply. Yes that sounds like a good plan, im sure they will do initial tests for you.
Okay that makes sense. If i count CD1 as 27th, i should have had my AF by now as im CD 30. Although i know it may be longer due this cycle.The spotting i had was only when i wiped and was around for about 2 days. As i havent had my AF, i decided to start taking ovulation tests and ive had high of my clear blue the last 2 days so im not really sure what that means.
After my drop in HCG, i took a pregnancy test a week later which was then negative.
Yes do keep me posted, it may be that your just going to ovulate slightly later this cycle. Fingers crossed we have some luck soon.
Can i ask did you wait for you first AF after miscarriage before TTC again?

@Tina8800 i'm so sorry for your losses. I had EWCM last month around the time of my detected surge, but I am concerned about whether I actually ovulated. I plan to track my temps next month in the hope this can give me confirmation. Hopefully your iron tablets make a difference - sending lots of baby dust your way!

@Fizzybelts no we didn't wait before TTC again, although we weren't quite as determined as we had been in the previous cycle and as my cycle was a bit of a mess we weren't successful! I started using my clearblue connected OPKs on my usual day and had 13(!) high fertility days before a peak was detected following the CP.

I'm hoping it won't be quite so bad this month but i'm on day 9 of high fertility flashing smileys so it isn't looking good. Next month I am going to track BBT to determine whether I am actually ovulating. I did have EWCM last month around the time of my peak but no sign this cycle yet!

Fingers crossed for you! Will post an update if I detect a surge/to share any cycle changes this month.

@lonelily312
Its hard isnt it knowing what to do. My DR said wait for my AF to arrive and initially i was ok with that but as time has passed im not as ok with waiting. I got my negative test on 18th March and I havent done any ovulation tests until yesterday.
Fingers crossed for you.

So a wee update...

Finally detected LH surge on CD19, so slightly earlier than my cycle following the CP but still not back to my usual ovulation dates of CD15/16

Have had pink spotting 10/11dpo, which happened in the cycle i had my CP, but FRERs have been negative and spotting now turning red, so think i'm out this cycle and will expect AF in the next couple of days. I usually spot for 1-2 days before AF arrives but would ordinarily start this around 12dpo with a 14 day luteal phase in a 'normal' cycle so this is earlier than expected.

This means my cycle this month will end up being around 32-33 days. Still not back to my original 29 day cycle but everything seems to be moving back in the right direction.

Going to monitor BBT this cycle as well as use OPKs to check ovulation is happening following my surge. Fingers crossed!

Sending baby dust to you all

I know this is an old thread. I just finished the post CP cycle and I just found out about this thread. You mentioned that you had LH peaks every month but the actual ovulation never happened. How were you able to find out?