Last January I got pregnant the first month I went off birth control (I had a miscarriage in March). I had my 2 surgeries after that in June and September and since October we have been trying to get pregnant again and NOTHING!!! I started taking ovulation tests to see if I was even ovulating and so far I have not gotten a positive. So I am wondering if this surgery could have made me stop ovulating. Has this happened to anyone else, and if so did you ever start again?

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

In response to your question, my cycles were a bit messed up after both of my surgeries for a couple of months. I actually got my period a day after my second surgery even though I had just finished it the week before, but I was told this was not unusual.

-Nicole

I was told a few times that it's not abnormal to get your period right after surgery, it's some sort of bodily response to the trauma or something.
I had surgery in Sept and Oct '07. I have not gotten my period since then; although I did spot for a few days last month. I'm assuming that things are just out of whack and will get back to normal.
I would guess that your body's cycle just hasn't resumed quite yet.

It is common for ovulation to cease after major trauma such as surgery. It is the body's way of preventing pregnancy until your body is fully capable of carrying a baby to term. Generally, ovulation should resume within the year. If you are underweight, this will add to your time.

Jan

I was wondering the same thing. I can go anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks between cycles,and sometimes it will last 3-4 days or as long as two weeks. Its been 3 years since my last surgery. What gives???? Just when I think I have this renovated body figured out it will do something to keep me on my toes. I look at it this way each month is a surprise for me!!!

Thank you for all of the rapid responses.

A few things...I have gotten my period and it has been pretty normal since my second surgery. After the first one I did got 2 months with nothing though. I was questioning more the ovulation. I know you can get your period without ovulating and was just wondering if the surgery could have made me stop ovulation, since I was obviously very fertile before the surgeries.
Jan your response makes sense. I am far from underweight so I dont think I have to worry about that. When do you think it would be the right time to get checked for fertility problems? Am I in too much of a hurry?

In the general population, you need to wait a year after trying to conceive before getting fertility assistance. But, when you have pelvic surgery, you are at a higher risk of infertility, so the wait is only six months of trying to conceive. During that interval, use ovulation predictor kits and make sure that you are having frequent intercourse during your presumed fertile periods. Obviously, if you are not even ovulating, there is no way to become pregnant.

What is your age? That factors in also.

Jan

Hi Jan
I am 28 and so is my husband.
Is the cause of infertility in people who have had pelvis surgery because of adhesions of not ovulation?

Hi!

I've had ovulation issues ever since my surgeries! I didn't really connect the two until I started trying to concieve.

I've been told I have Polycystic symptoms (but given a lack of ongoing health care here I don't know any more than that - I'm currently quite dissatisfied with the NHS!) and that is why my ovulation is very erratic - but I'm not convinced, I'd really like them to do a laperoscopy to check the extent of scaring so we can see if it is affecting my ovaries and the movement of my tubes - but they don't want to take that risk...

If you're worried I'd get it checked out - if only to set your mind at rest. It's very stressful watching an ovulation test every day and never seeing a positive result!

Good luck with everything!

Caroline

I was on birth control pills for years and when I had my surgeries, due to not taking the pill, I started my cycle a few days after each surgery. I did not have problems with my cycles until 1 1/2 years after my j-pouch surgery. My cycles completely stopped. I did not have one for at least 6 months. After that they were every 55 days or so. I have had a total of 4 abdominal surgeries. My body is back on a 34 day schedule.

I was not sexually active until I met my husband and that was 2 years after my j-pouch surgery. We started trying to have a baby when we got married. We found out 6 months after we started trying that my body was not ovulating. I blame it on my surgeries. I spoke with my colorectal surgeon and my infertility doctor and they both dismiss this claim.

I tried 4 rounds of clomid and did not ovulate. I also went through 3 rounds of IUI with follistim and ovulated. I did not get pregnant. Right now I am trying Metformin. We are going to give it a 6 month try.
Karen

The trauma of surgery can cause your body to stop ovulating until you are fully recovered and have enough fat reserves to carry a baby to term. So that is one factor.

Another factor is the possible adhesions from pelvic surgery that can block the tubes or even bind the ovaries.

A third factor is that your fertility naturally begins to decline after about age 25. Most women do not realize this because they see so many other women delaying childbirth until their late 20s or 30s without any problems, some well into their 40s.

Also, you need to consider male infertility too, as about half of the time, he can be the problem.

Jan

I feel for you =(

I was very young when I had surgery. I'm not sure if the surgery was what caused me not to ovulate. I was 11 when I got my monthly periods. They were pretty regular for a kid and they were very regular until almost my 14th birthday. (when I'd gotten sick)
I've since had 2 surgeries and my cycles have never been the same.
My husband and I tried for 2 years before seeing a fertility specialist. I'd been off Birth Control for 5 or 6 years at that point.
I'd never gotten pregnant.
I went through many many tests. The RE never found a reason for my lack of ovulation. She did find that my husband had low morphology.
She told me that (regarding myself), normally they would do a laparoscopy surgery to find out if there was scar tissue on the outside of the tubes...etc.. but she was not comfortable opening me up and making a mess of the surgeries I've had.
We opted to have an IUI and it worked on the first try.
I hope you figure something out soon.
Take care,

Melissa

Messa...I guess I dont understand how the IUI works...I know what it is but why would that work if you are not ovulating? Do they give you pills to make you ovulate and if so, why is that different than if you were to just have sex when you took the pills.
I am happy that it worked for you. Hope you are feeling well. When are you due?

I had to have injections. The injections increased the amount of eggs I made. They monitor you to make sure you do not produce too many. I produced 1 good egg.
The IUI increases your chance of becoming pregnant as they use only washed sperm for the procedure. They actually take only the good sperm and inject that in you.
This was needed for me as my husband had low morphology. The specialist also thought it might help the sperm meet the egg a little better than before. She said that by ultrasound, they could tell my fallopian tubes were out of place. This may have been causing a lack of communication between my fallopian tubes and uterus (I believe).

Here is a link on the IUI procedure:

http://www.sharedjourney.com/iui/overview.html

Shawanna,

I will be having my baby May 2nd by C-section.

Good luck! I hope you find something that works for you!