Unexplained infertility with #1, what to expect when TTC #2?

[MunchiesMom]

It took us one stressful, long year to conceive DS. The RE ran every test in the book (HSG, SA, etc, even had a laprascopy to check for endo) and everything came back fine. He said we had "unexplained infertility." We tried a few monhs of clomid/IUIs and were unsuccessful. I was 26 and DH was 29 BTW. Finally we "threw in the towel" and had went to vacation in Napa only to come home pregnant!

DS is 3YO and we just started TTC #2. I'm kind of freaking out because I'm 30 and am reading all these depressing stats about fertility as you age. I realize I only have a 15-25% chance of conception each month anyway, and I'm wondering if my chances are even lower based on my past struggles? I'm scared we're in for another long, emotional year of TTC and I want to know what to expect. What's the average timeframe - 4-6 months? 6-12 months?

If you have a diagnosis of "unexplained infertility" with one child, will you have issues TTC all children? Any experiences with trouble conceiving #1 only to conceive #2 quickly?

Tia!

[LindsayK]

Last year, some friends of ours had just started TTC again after having terrible troubles TTC #1. It took years to have their first child, and they were so daunted by the prospect of going through all of that again that my friend was literally crying at my dining room table thinking about going through it all again. 

I just saw newborn pictures of their second child on facebook... it took them 1 week of TTC to get pregnant with her :)

[Daffodil]

We had unexplained infertility when we were trying to conceive #1.  We eventually ended up doing IVF, which was successful.  By that time, I was 40, and by the time I finally got my period back after DD was born, I was almost 43.  Nevertheless, we conceived #2 naturally on the very first try! 

[Jaimee]

My neighbor had PCOS and tried everything from charting to clomid to IUI and finally succeeded with IVF to conceive her first.  She was really worried that conceiving her second would be the same, but they succeeded on their first IUI. 

We tried for several months to conceive our first and I had to work on lengthening my LP.  I also m/c just prior to conceiving.  But my next two pregnancies were big OOPS with 5 day old sperm conceiving my second and no fertile CF around O to conceive our third. 

I think both these stories show that pregnancy has a way of kicking your hormones into gear and increasing your fertility.  Of course it won't hold true for everyone, but there are a lot of stories out there to show that it is not uncommon to have much less trouble conceiving subsequent children.

Good luck!

[Peony]

I actually got pg with #1 on the first try and then went on to spend a year TTC #2. #3 was another first try baby and #4 was conceived during a time in my cycle when I am normally not the slightest bit fertile, so yeah, no issues conceiving again that time! 

[MunchiesMom]

Thanks for the replies. This is really reassuring. I think maybe the "title" of unexplained infertility left me feeling like there's something wrong with me.

I talked to my MW about my concerns and she said "based on all the tests coming back normal, and the fact that you've conceived once, there's no reason to assume you will have any issues." So that makes me feel better. Now the waiting begins!