TTC after a chemical pregnancy

[MrsImpatient]

I know there are a few threads about this but they're all a few years old and inactive, so I'd love to get a group of us in this together!

Myself and my husband started TTC in June 2023. Amazingly, we got a positive pregnancy test on 29th June, I was elated. It was 11 dpo, and the line was clear and unmistakeable. The night before I had the strongest implantation cramps, so I knew the test would be positive. The next day, I did another test and it was negative. Again the next two days, negative. I started bleeding on 3rd July. The bleeding for me was a bit lighter than my normal periods, and only lasted 4 days so it wasn't so bad - but emotionally I was destroyed.

The only thing that helped me emotionally was reading threads online where lots of women seem to say they conceived immediately or the following cycle after a chemical pregnancy. We started trying straight away - got my positive OPK on 18th July and had such strong ovulation pain that evening (much stronger than I've ever had before the chemical strangely). We BD'd on 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th July.

I'm now 2/3 DPO. Last night (1/2 dpo) I had a feeling like a stitch in my ovary and groin area on the same side I ovulated on, that radiated down my thigh and felt like growing pains! Today I still have mild stitch feeling down there, but much less. I googled it and think it might be corpus luteum pain - I don't think that's an indication of pregnancy (I wish) but again I've never felt it before this month.

Is anyone else out there also in the TWW immediately after a chemical, or conceived immediately after a chemical and can give me an idea of symptoms you had? Also, anyone else feel much more physical symptoms generally from ovulation and post-ovulation after a chemical?!

I am so desperate for my BFP this month, chemicals are so cruel. I'd love to say I won't test early again, but I will. Not only because I'm impatient, but also because I want to know if it happens again so I can go to the GP if there is a problem!

Baby dust to everyone xx

@MrsImpatient How are you getting on? I am in a similar-ish situation. I tested positive on Monday (nearly 5 weeks) and unfortunately started bleeding the same day which has now progressed into a full on period, so I've unfortunately had a chemical pregnancy. We have been trying since January so its we were elated to get a a bfp all to have it all come crashing down so quickly. Like you..I am very impatient to start trying again and hoping my cycle just says as normal so that I ovulate in a couple of weeks. How are you finding your TWW at the moment? Any symtoms?

@Eks86 Hi lovely, I'm so sorry this has happened to you too, I know it's devastating. The good news is that I ovulated on my normal day (maybe a day late), and I'm confident that I did actually ovulate. So hopefully your cycle will return to normal straight away too. I'm 8 dpo today and I've been keeping track of my symptoms so far:

2 dpo - stitch sensation in left ovary / groin area, pain feels like it radiates into my thigh, almost like growing pains in my leg. Occasional shooting headache pains.

3 dpo - again stitch sensation in left side, slightly milder.

4 dpo - aching groin area in side I ovulated on (left), mild pulling sensation in my uterus, aching legs like growing pains, some milky cm. I also noticed a sensation similar to after you've been crying and your breathing feels a bit shaky and nauseous.

5 dpo - mild shooting cramps in left side, more milky cm, mouth ulcers and sensitive teeth (not sure if these two were related or not!)

6 dpo - mildly cramping in evening mostly left side but sometimes all over lower abdomen, wet milky cm, mild lower back ache.

7 dpo (yesterday) - mild but definitely noticeable nausea all day whilst at work. When I got home from work, I had several hours of very strong, radiating dull cramps across my entire uterus area. This felt exactly the same as I experienced last month the day before I got my BFP.

8 dpo (today) - woke up and felt fine, but took a test hoping for a BFP given that I got one the morning after those same pains last month. But BFN! As the day has progressed I've had some more mild cramping, and some more nausea. I did notice though that my cm seems to have dried up a lot today...

Last night I was absolutely 100% certain implantation was taking place and I'm pregnant. The feeling was unmistakeable for me, the exact same as last month. Plus the nausea, which I didn't get last month, and never ever get normally either. The BFN this morning has thrown me off though, feeling a bit disappointed. But I still feel like I'm pregnant and hoping with everything I have that a BFP is coming in the next couple of days!

xx

Fingers crossed for you. I got my BFP with DD2 the month after a chemical / v early MC (think I was around 5 and a bit weeks)
So it can def happen!

@Loub55 thank you so much, that's so lovely to hear such a positive story. To be honest I've been telling myself 'there's no way I'll get that lucky again to fall pregnant straight away again', just trying to protect myself mentally. But since yesterday it felt undeniable really. I just hope I'm right, it'll be a big fall from this much hope now if I'm wrong. :( I'm not sure how long after implantation I can reasonably expect to get a positive. It was so quick last time but for whatever reason it didn't stick, so I'm hoping slow and steady wins the race this time! xx

@MrsImpatient I am keeping everything crossed for you! The strong cramps about 7dpo were a real giveaway for me last month that I was implanting - I’d never had that before. Hoping you get your bfp in the next couple of days. Relieved to hear you ovulated as normal after the chemical pregnancy. I really just want to get on with things and my cycle has been very predictable up until
now so I hope nothing changes. I’m also hoping the rumours are true and we are more fertile just after a chemical….Let us know how you get on!

I had a chemical pregnancy at the start of March and got a bfp again the end of March - I'm now 20 weeks. I used opk sticks again so knew when I ovulatated but we only managed to dtd once (on peak day) so I didn't have much hope at all, but it worked! I had partly felt really deflated and fed up so my heart hadn't really been in it. I read you are more fertile after a CP so have wondered if this is actually true? For me, I was getting lower back pain then got my bfp at 11dpo. Good luck to you!! ❤️

@Eks86 I also heard we were more fertile after a chemical pregnancy, so let’s hope that’s true! It does seem to be very common to fall pregnant soon after one! I’ll let you know how I get on xx

@Proudmummy67 aw thanks so much for sharing, that’s so lovely to hear. I got intense cramps all Tuesday night 7dpo, felt just like the implantation pain I had with my cp. I’ve had BFNs so far, but still feeling nauseous today! Really hoping it becomes a BFP soon, I’m not sure how long it takes after implantation usually to show on a test! Xx

Hi ladies, just thought I’d give an update. I carried on having cramps but much milder on Wednesday (8dpo) and I continued to feel nauseous 8-10 dpo. However I’ve only had BFNs up to today (11dpo) and am starting to feel crampy but more like period cramps now. I’m due on in the next couple of days so I’m expecting her to arrive any time now 🥺 I really don’t know what to think. Ive never had nausea before this cycle, and I’ve never had those pains I had on 7dpo before apart from last month when I had them the night before I got my BFP. I feel sure it was attempted implantation, but I guess it didn’t work for some reason. Not sure what to do next, whether I should contact the GP for some tests or just keep trying… we only started trying 2 months ago but I’ve had a confirmed chemical and a suspected failed implantation, I just feel lost 😢

What are you hoping you'll gain from a GP visit?

@MrsImpatient i feel for you. Such a nerve wracking journey. But it’s not over yet! Our bodies are weird and it may still be too early for the test to pick up anything. This time last week I was drinking a glass of wine with my sister and crying as I could feel strong period pains and a hormone headache and I was gutted that yet another cycle was going to end in a period. Three days later I tested positive. As you know, I lost it pretty soon after but the point is that until AF shows up we just don’t know. I would personally avoid testing again until you are one or two days late but I know that’s easier said than done. Baby dust to you! If it’s not this cycle then you always have the next. It’ll happen.

@Whataretheodds I'm not entirely sure but I was wondering if they could do a blood test to check my hormone levels, to see if there might be a reason for recurrent implantation failure or similar… I know we haven’t been trying long but the idea of waiting for it to keep happening is unbearable at this moment. If nothing else it would put my mind at rest to know there were no obviously hormonal issues which could be causing this.

@Eks86 thank you so much. You’re right, our bodies are so weird and wonderful and I’m not quite out yet… I’ll hold off now for a couple of days. All the luck to you xx

Honestly I don't think you can say you have a 'recurrent implantation failure' or indeed a problem at this point.

How old are you? I'm 42 and would strongly recommend a few things if you're over 35:
Fertility MOT - especially if you've never had a scan of your reproductive organs or checked your AMH, including semen analysis for your partner. Ideally I'd look for one that checks your progesterone, LSG and FH hormones too.
Get fit and healthy, consider supplementing with folic acid (you) and vitamin D (both), further supplements are available.
Look at your nutrition
Do something every day that distresses you

Pressed too soon.

I know it's difficult but you will help yourself if you can work on your mindset with this - if you're finding it 'unbearable' after 2 cycles then you are going to be in for a really hard ride. I say that as someone who has had 2 MC and struggled with my mental health.

Zita West does some really good videos on this stuff.

do something every day that DE-stresses you! Not distresses, obv

@Whataretheodds thanks for the tips - I’ll take a look at Zita West. Strangely, if I had just never had a positive test and could just think ‘oh well, it’s not happened for us just yet’ I don’t think I’d be struggling so much mentally. It was the chemical and then the mirrored symptoms this month that have thrown me for six, and made me want it so much more intensely than I did when we first started TTC.

I’m 28 so age shouldn’t be a factor in this, I’m generally good with my diet, healthy weight and active and take all the recommended supplements. I do tend to be a pretty anxious person though with a fairly pessimistic mindset at times, and let things consume me a little! How do you go about getting a fertility MOT? Maybe if I keep having issues for the next few months I could look into that, if nothing else to put my mind at ease. I know I may not have a problem (hopefully not) but it’s the not knowing that I find difficult I suppose. I really think it would help me mentally to know there’s no major issues and that it should happen sooner or later x

I booked one at a local fertility clinic - they offered a discount after I attended one of their open days. It was about £500 for us as a couple. I knew that there was no point spending a year TTC if either of us had a structural problem. What they can't tell you is your egg quality, but at 28 age won't be a materially negative factor for you. Sounds like lifestyle-wise you're good. What about your partner? I switched away from BPA plastics but otherwise didn't change eg skincare.

Male factor fertility is obviously easier to test than female.

It might be worth you looking up the odds of conceiving naturally each cycle for a woman of your age (I'm assuming your partner is a similar age.) If you hadn't tested you'd have just assumed your cycle was a bit off. And if you hadn't known about the chemical you might have attributed your pains to something you ate.

I would add - it sounds as though you're looking for certainty. I had to learn that certainty isn't something you get in this particular ballgame. You will not have control, if you get consumed it will consume you and possibly impact your relationship. It's been barely 2 months. Take an MOT if you have the cash to chuck away ( I bet William and Kate and Harry and Megan did). But you have got a million and one other things you could be doing at this point in your life, and 'relax for a few months and have fun practising' might be the better advice.

You won't get anything from your GP at this stage - you need 2 concurrent losses to get blood tests done (and even that is brand new guidance that only came out last week), and you need to be trying over a year with no pregnancies if you're under 35, or over 35 you need to have been trying for 6 months with no pregnancies.

I echo what some others have said - as much as you really want this, and we all do, you need to take a deep breath and figure out what will work to keep you as stress free as possible during TTC as it's not a quick thing for a lot of us, and has zero certainties. You've only been trying for 2 months, give yourself time x

Also if you can afford a private fertility MOT then go for it, I found it really helped to know that everything was ok structurally, but I should add this doesn't speed anything up as such! My first pregnancy took 2.5 years to conceive (with nothing wrong from all the tests), and my second took 6 months. Sadly both were losses and I still don't have any children. Which is why I say it's best for your mental health to settle in to it in case it takes longer than expected x

@MrsImpatient Hey, sorry about your loss. we too suffered a loss on cycle 2 of trying. We started trying in February, had an early loss in March and have been trying since. Like the PP said, the doctors won't refer you at this stage however you're able to book in for private testing to get levels checked etc. we're going to do that in September.

Each month after the chemical I felt hopefully but now 4 months on I've lost all hope 😂. I'm 5DPO currently x

Hi @MrsImpatient just jumping on here as I'm in a similar position to you this month. (You shouldn't give up hope yet tho as your symptoms sound strong and could just be too early to test)

I had MMC at the start of March, my cycle only returned to normal in May so have been actively ttc since then. 2 cycles in and I had a faint positive at 10DPO last cycle, turned into a BFP but unfortunately I started to bleed on day 31 (usually a 26 day cycle) so it was a CP for me. That was 13 days ago. Now I'm totally confused as the bleeding only lasted for 2.5 days. I'm sure it was chemical as I had bad cramps and it was heavy and also tested bfn after it. The problem is my cycle is now all over the place on my Premom app. It's saying that I won't be in fertile zone until tomorrow with predicted Ov in 6 days but I'm having really strong ovulation twinges now so I'm basically going to be dtd for the next week (after already doing it the last 2 days just in case) I'm just so worried that the short amount of bleeding didn't clear me out enough if you know what I mean 😣 As I said defo don't take the cramping to mean you're out this month the other symptoms sound really hopeful 🤞

Hi everyone. I am wondering if someone else can give me some advice and help. We found out I was pregnant back in Sept 14th and was super excited, then Tuesday 19th I started bleeding and testing negative which I know was a chemical. My bleeding lasted till 23rd Sept and was super light, no cramps or clots mostly only when I wiped and nothing in the pad. I tried staying positive but still ended up just testing negative even now. I keep trying to work out when my ovulation would happen again and going by Flo app it says it should be tomorrow (4th Oct) but I don't have my hopes up as I don't feel like I have my symptoms of more discharge etc prior ovulation and all I can think about is when it will happen and best way to know it is happening. We are so desperate for a baby and hope that we end up lucky enough this time round to be able to carry full term!

Alot of women concieve very quickly after a chemical, however if you don’t, there is no reason to panic.

I had a chemical in December after 6 months TTC and I was devastated! I like you, searched so many threads and so many women said they went on to conceive the following month or very quickly, so when this didn’t happen to me I got very upset. It actually took me until August to conceive again (8 months) and I am currently nearly 8 weeks. My advice would be not to compare too much as everybody is different!

and with regards to symptoms, take them with a pinch of salt, you are hyper aware of your body right now! I have had so many cycles I was convinced I was pregnant and wasn’t then the cycle I got my BFP I had no symptoms except period cramps and was convinced AF would show. TTC can really trick your mind!

That being said, the fact you got a positive pregnancy test after one month is very promising, means you know you ovulate and your partners sperm is all ok and was able to fertilise the egg, just sadly didn’t stick which is SO common! So I would try and relax and not get too carried away with symptoms spotting although its very hard not to!! Oh and try not to test too early, it really messes with your head and emotions! Good luck! Xx

@MrsImpatient and I really wouldn’t be pursuing fertility testing at this stage, you have been TTC for 2 months and you hve had a BFP already which is super reassuring and you are young, I think it would be unnessecary and potentially expensive to get tests done at this early stage! It can take healthy couples up to a year to fall, please please please try not to stress. If you want to do something to reassure yourself track your ovulation with OPKs and BBT if you want to check for ovulation. Xx

@Meggan123 Thank you! This is reassuring for sure! Some days are better than others for me and I know not everyone is the same and you will never get a definite answer but I just wish it was more simple than that and someone could just say this is when it will happen and put all of our minds at ease!

Will keep on trying though and hopefully within this month we can get pregnant and carry full term and have no complications. This was my first ever loss too as I already have an 11 year old and a 9 year old from a previous relationship and my partner doesn't have kids of his own so to be honest I think I was more devastated for him than myself because the look on his face when he found out that it was a chemical pregnancy has broke my heart!

Suppose can only stay positive and hope that this month will be our lucky month and my ovulation will happen as it should and by end of next month we get a positive test that stays positive! Xxx