Unexplained Secondary infertility

[Bubblegum89]

I have a 9 year old DD from a previous relationship and have been ttc for 18 months so far with not even a hint of a pregnancy. I have been pregnant before with my partner, 3 years ago, but sadly it ended in a termination. One I didn’t want as I wanted the baby so badly, which makes ttc now even harder.

Anyway, we have been for all our tests. All hormone, 2 lots of SA, 3D internal scan, SIS and HyCoSy. Everything is apparently totally normal so we’ve been discharge from the clinic with unexplained infertility.

Every doctor I’ve seen throughout this process so far have all said a similar thing; that the fact I have been able to get pregnant twice naturally before (and carry one to full term with normal birth) is a positive sign. Both my pregnancies happened due to missing just one pill. So very easily conceived. In 18 months of ttc, we’ve had nothing. So my question is this really, is there actually any “science” behind that statement? If you have conceived naturally previously, are your chances of conceiving again higher than those who have never conceived? I only ask because I know many women in my situation with 1 or more children who were very easily conceived, but who have been ttc for a VERY long time, some for over ten years with no luck. So it seems that perhaps it’s not true at all. I know fertility is a total lottery and there are no guarantees for anyone, but with so many doctors saying it, I did wonder if it’s a proven theory or just something they assume because you’ve “done it before so you can do it again”.

Didn’t want to leave this unanswered.
I’m a doctor, not in fertility so no expert, but the single best predictor of future fertility is having previously had a spontaneous conception (however the pregnancy ends). Obviously it can’t apply to everyone but statistically that’s the best indicator. I’m sure many cases of “unexplained infertility” will become “explained” as time passes but at present these are the best predictors.

I don’t find it all that comforting as I’ve had one easily conceived DD, an unplanned (but not unwelcome) pregnancy end in early miscarriage and now been trying again since last summer and had 2 more miscarriages. Being told getting pregnant is a good sign isn’t especially comforting when the pregnancies don’t last!

Hi ladies, similar crappy story here 😕. I have DS who is 11 unplanned but again not unwanted with a different partner. I have been ttc now for 18 months, in this past year have had mmc, early m/c & chemical & now for past 2 months dont seem to be ovulating - im ready to crack up! All blood tests normal (except day 21 some months), ultrasound looks good with follicles on ovaries but not popping so to speak. I have never been so unhappy as friends are preg left right & centre! I love being able to plan so i suppose this is why im finding this so difficult as ive no control. Im also 36 in few weeks & dreading it!!!!!

paranormabouqet thank you for your reply. I’m struggling to come to terms with the unexplained diagnosis to be honest. I can’t really get my head around how everything can be as it should be and it still not happen. I’m trying to remain positive with the knowledge that all the doctors seem to think that having had a natural pregnancy in the past is a positive step in the right direction but I just keep going back to the idea of, well why hasn’t it happened yet? I’ve not had any pregnancies since ttc whatsoever. I was told my tubes are in excellent condition, my cavity is “beautiful” and my lining showed a triple stripe which is apparently the best kind of lining for implantation. So the fact nothing is happening is just so frustrating. I’m so sorry to hear you’ve experienced so many losses :( I’m lucky in that I’ve never had to go through a miscarriage

keepinghopeful oh that’s sounds so annoying. It’s so frustrating that our bodies just pick and choose what they want to do instead of doing what they’re supposed to! I have had to unfollow many people on my Facebook due to all the “first month of trying” pregnancies. It seems nobody got pregnant until we started ttc then everyone around me is getting upduffed. Except for me. It really sucks

@Bubblegum89 I don’t think there’s an answer to that question. It’s still possible it’s bad luck; it’s also possible that there’s a problem that can’t be seen with our current knowledge/technology. In my case it’s likely I have uterine adhesions which are possibly responsible for some of my miscarriages (have had unusually light periods since my EMCS, and there’s certainly a suggestion of more scarring than is usual on all my scans). I’ll have a hysteroscopy but it’s likely if they are localised treatment might do more harm than good so may just have to hope that eventually a good embryo implants away from adhesions. Not sure I can psychologically cope with that stress though! I’m also surrounded by pregnancies, including one colleague who is due on the same date I was due based on recent miscarriage. She’s lovely and is a long awaited pregnancy so I’m genuinely pleased for her. Yet still every time I see her it’s like being punched.