How long were you benched after a d&c?

ThePax89 · February 2016

I've seen 2 doctors (from different practices) after my d&c. One told me to wait 2 cycles to ttc. The other told me to wait 3.

What were you told?

(Background: this was my second m/c in 10 weeks. I miscarried the first naturally at 5 weeks, got pregnant immediately, and had a mmc at 9.5 weeks. I needed a second d&c for retained tissue)

MamaCoffin · February 2016

Mine told me to wait 1 full cycle, only so I would have a lmp to date from. But that's been a mess. I've bled every two weeks since my d&c. I don't really know what's been a period and what hasn't...

With that said..... I've only had one loss, and all testing showed nothing was wrong. I was cleared to start trying immediately. It's been 3 months now though and I still haven't regulated.

I personally would wait at least 2-3 cycles if I'd had two losses back to back. I don't know that getting pregnant right away actually causes issue... But I wouldn't want to take the risk.

Good luck! And I'm so sorry for your losses.

chloe97 · February 2016

I had the same issue- 1 said wait 2 cycles, another said 1. My body frankly wasn't ready after 1cycle. I'm not sure it's ready after 2, but we are doing this. There also confusion about what a cycle actually is. I had bleeding 4 weeks after my D&C, charted that cycle and confirmed ovulation. My Dr says it's very unlikely I actually ovulated though, so is that a cycle? As much I would hate it, I would probably wait 3 in your situation just to give your body more time to heal. Good luck!

BrightenMySky · February 2016

My d&c was 2/1, and then I followed up with cytotec on 2/8. My RE said at my appointment this week no "activity" restrictions and didn't say anything about preventing (although we have MFI, so odds are low), plus he said "if I'm not pregnant this cycle," we might do xyz, which I interpret to mean no need to prevent.

ThePax89 · February 2016

Wow @BrightenMySky my doctors were both adamant that I use condoms until 2 cycles. I think because I got pregnant after my last loss, I'm not sure though

silentP · February 2016

My doctor said to wait two cycles after my first D&C, which we did but got pregnant at our first attempt. I miscarried again. I hate how the advice is all over the place with this!

I am now just off the bench after three cycles because of testing. Nothing abnormal has shown up so off we go to try again, but I feel somehow more confident having waited a bit longer, for whatever reason.

Kay6519 · February 2016

My second MC, we were advised to avoid TTC for 6-8 weeks post D&C. With the last one, we were benched for six months. But that was also was due in part to trying to regulate crazy hormones and for some testing.

BrightenMySky · February 2016

ThePax89 said:

Wow @BrightenMySky my doctors were both adamant that I use condoms until 2 cycles. I think because I got pregnant after my last loss, I'm not sure though

Yeah, it seems like the recommendations are really all over the place. I think our chances of conceiving on our own in 1 cycle are pretty low, though, so that may be part of it. Plus I still have some retained material, but that did not seem to concern him...my RE said o's would actually be a great way to encourage what is left to pass.

ThePax89 · February 2016

@silentP my husband wants us to wait 3 cycles, to let my body regulate. I'm glad you are feeling more confident. That is half the battle. My first period was bizarre. I'm going to see how my next period is and assess from there.

ThePax89 · February 2016

@BrightenMySky dammit! Giving my husband more fuel to get me in the sack tonight. The orgasm thing makes sense though.
How do you know that you still have retained tissue?

BrightenMySky · February 2016

@ThePax89 it was diagnosed via ultrasound. The first time, I went to the ER about 5 days after my d&c because I was having cramps (stronger than what I had right after the procedure, which had already gone away, and not responding to ibuprofen & heating pad). At first the gyn thought that some retained tissue after a d&c is probably somewhat normal, but then once he saw the ultrasound results, it was more than he thought was reasonable--and I was basically having contractions--so I got prescribed & took cytotec.

While the cytotec seemed to do what it was supposed to do, I went for my 2-week post-d&c appointment and my RE still saw retained tissue on ultrasound. What's left may come out on its own, but not sure.

FiancB · February 2016

Mine told me to wait 4 weeks to have sex, and that had more to do with avoiding infection than pregnancy. I kinda failed at that and had sex after 2 or 3 weeks, but 4 is on the long side of the common advice and I didn't ovulate anyway. Once that time was up, he encouraged us to try again right away. It sounds like waiting even one cycle is more for dating purposes than anything.

Waiting multiple cycles is traditional advice but there's no evidence to support it. There were some studies posted recently that suggested women had a higher chance of a viable pregnancy if they got pregnant within 3 months, and anecdotally I know several that got take-home babies right away. Do what you feel emotionally ready for, and if your body isn't ready it probably won't work anyway. I didn't ovulate my first cycle, had a weak ovulation and short LP my second, and this is my third and still a little wonky but seems to be regulating itself.

BrightenMySky · February 2016

@FiancB I was told 2 weeks for sex because of infection (also no tampons). I cannot imagine trying to wait 4. I found that even in the 2 weeks I was really wanting that bond/intimacy as a comfort. (And not on topic, but I really like the saying at the bottom of your siggy.)

ThePax89 · February 2016

@FiancB
emotionally, I think I am. The goal was to have a baby. So I'm aiming to do just that. I've found a new ob that I'm confident will give me more peace of mind that my previous practice. Physically, my body appears to be a war-zone.

@BrightenMySky nobody ever did a follow up ultrasound on me. I worry I might have some retained tissue. I still tested positive for pregnancy at 4 weeks post d&c. What is their plan for you? Are you in pain?

cjs260 · February 2016

@ThePax89 I don't want to frighten you, but if you think you have retained tissue, you should get an u/s asap. There can be some serious repercussions of leaving tissue in the uterus. I don't remember specifically where you are timewise, but if you still have HCG in your system after 6 weeks, I would get that checked out, too. It's extremely unlikely that you will conceive while there is HCG in your system. Personally, I had to demand a 2nd ultrasound a month after taking misoprostol (I was having excessive bleeding), and I slept much better knowing that I had no retained tissue.

BrightenMySky · February 2016

@ThePax89 I was pretty uncomfortable when I went to the ER--trouble sleeping from pain, and no relief from ibuprofen and heat as I mentioned above). Once I took the cytotec and clearly passed tissue, the cramping basically went away. I do not have cramping right now.

The plan is to follow HCG with weekly blood tests. Then when I get my period, I would be going in for a baseline u/s to see if I wanted to start another round of fertility treatments in any case, so the RE may do a saline ultrasound depending on what things look like. So I guess the possibilities for the tissue are that it gets passed naturally (either before or during my period), it is loose enough that it is dislodged during the saline ultrasound, or it is not coming out and I would have a hysteroscopy.

One thing that the GYN I saw in the ER said was that it is not routine to do u/s scans 1-week post-d&c, so they don't really know what would be "normal" to find at that stage--it's possible it's more typical to have some tissue left that you just pass on your own (the doc was just pretty sure based on my scan and symptoms that this was not close to normal). There is a risk in doing too much in the d&c that it could cause scarring, so better to err on the side of not getting everything.

I guess I would just urge you to talk to your doctor and do not be afraid to advocate for yourself (or ask your SO to help you, my husband is great at calling doctors when I really don't feel like talking). This may be super routine for the doctor, but that is so not the case for us as patients, and I think sometimes that is lost on them.

ThePax89 · February 2016

@BrightenMySky and @cjs260

Ive had my first period already. Unless it wasn't my period. I called and they said it probably was. Now I got a call saying my hcg is 8. Awaiting a call back from the doctor.

ThePax89 · February 2016

I'm so utterly defeated right now.

cjs260 · February 2016

@ThePax89 I'm so, so sorry you're feeling this way. It took me so long to heal physically after my loss, and I know how truly terrible it is. I will agree with @BrightenMySky and tell you to advocate for yourself. I hated to be "that patient", but it seemed like I had to be to get everything settled. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. If they refuse, seriously consider changing doctors. Creepy internet hugs your way.

BrightenMySky · February 2016

@ThePax89 I am so sorry. It is so frustrating to choose the d&c, which for me was definitely motivated by wanting the physical part to just be over, and have it drag on like this. I agree with @cjs260 to consider changing doctors if you are not getting the care you need and deserve from your current provider.

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