Pregnancy after d and c

[Babes in arms]

Can anyone tell me how long someone should wait to ttc after a d and c? TIA

Erica

[Charmie981]

Sorry Erica, but I can't help but wonder why you're asking this!

I believe the standard answer is one cycle. However, that is usually for dating purposes more than anything else.

My answer is to wait until you're (the generic "you," of course!) both physically ready for intercourse and emotionally ready to TTC (and there's sometimes a vast difference in those two!)

[Mindi22]

We were told to wait three cycles. It made sense to me to wait at least one cycle, to make sure that the uterine lining builds up properly again and allow for some healing time. I don't get the need for three cycles, though. I've had two D&C's and after my first, I had my cycle in about 32 days, but after the second, I didn't have another cycle for almost three months, which was frustrating.

HTH!

[Jane]

If there's a reason to want to watch the hcg fall - a molar pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy, then delay is prudent. You want to know that there is no remaining tissue that could continue to grow and spread by seeing that 0 hcg blood test.
I think there could be value in having a complete "normal" cycle before conceiving, b/c so many women have a few strange cycles before returning to their pattern. But so many would rather conceive in that cycle than watch it. Some of it may be your tolerance for risk. If you were to have another miscarriage, and didn't wait some arbitrary amount of time, would that make you feel guilty (even though there wasn't a reason to be)? How would you feel about having uncertainty about dates (from an unknown ovulation date)? About getting/not getting an early ultrasound?

[mrsfatty]

I was told 2 cycles. I had a second trimester loss, with a retained placenta--we were told 2 cycles, didn't wait, but didn't get pregnant until 2 cycles anyway. We DID wait to have sex (any sex at all) until the bleeding had COMPLETELY stopped and I wasn't feeling as sore (so I didn't end up with an infection).

A D&C is a surgerical procedure--so at least wait until your bleeding stops completely.

You should also consider the YOUR specific D&C procedure (why you had it, conditions around it)--did they have to force your cervix open or were you dialated (if they had to open it, then you need to wait so the cervix can heal)? Was this from a pregnancy loss or a OBGYN procedure to get pregnant? What were you told in regards to waiting? If this was a loss, have you had time to emotionally heal and deal with that loss?