General Fertility
October 3, 2023 at 6:57:00 PM
The time following a miscarriage or D&C (dilation and curettage) can be both physically and emotionally challenging, and many surrogates wonder when their menstrual cycle will return following either a miscarriage or D&C. Attuning yourself to your body’s health and response over the next several weeks helps you understand how you are recovering and what your next steps in surrogacy will be.
HOW LONG DOES INITIAL BLEEDING LAST AFTER A MISCARRIAGE?
You will typically experience a slow bleed for up to a week following the miscarriage or procedure. Typically, bleeding stops once your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels have returned to zero. Doctors will generally monitor your blood hormone levels to ensure that your hCG levels return to zero on their own.
HOW SOON AFTER MISCARRIAGE OR D&C DO YOU GET YOUR PERIOD?
Your first period will generally return within four weeks of your hCG levels returning to zero. However, it is not uncommon for some women to experience prolonged return to ovulation and menses, which can last up to eight weeks.
WHEN WILL OVULATION RESUME?
In many cases, ovulation will not occur during your first cycle, as your body is still recovering. In most cases, your IVF doctor will wait for you to experience one or two cycles before starting medications for a repeat medical cycle and transfer. During this time, your cervix will remain soft and open, which may make intercourse painful.
WHEN TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT EXTENDED BLEEDING AFTER A MISCARRIAGE
In the cases of a natural miscarriage especially, you’ll want to pay special attention to how long your initial bleed lasts and how frequently you experience a recurrence of bleeding. In these cases, it is possible that some tissue may have been retained in the uterus and is preventing your body from healing. If you continue to experience light spotting over an extended time, it could be possible that your body is having trouble returning to regular hormone levels. You will want to speak with your doctor if you experience any case of extended bleeding.
PROLONGED ABSENCE OF MENSES (NO PERIOD AFTER MISCARRIAGE)
A prolonged return of menstruation is not normal. While it can take up to eight weeks for your body to properly recover and return to having regular cycles, some women will experience an even longer delay. This is typically experienced after a D&C as opposed to a natural miscarriage and may indicate the presence of new scar tissue or fibroids inside of the uterus. If you have not experienced a menstrual bleed by 10 weeks following the miscarriage or procedure, it is important that you notify your doctor.
At Growing Generations, we are here for you every step of the way. Contact Growing Generations to learn more.
The time following a miscarriage or D&C (dilation and curettage) can be both physically and emotionally challenging, and many surrogates wonder when their menstrual cycle will return following either a miscarriage or D&C. Attuning yourself to your body’s health and response over the next several weeks helps you understand how you are recovering and what your next steps in surrogacy will be.
HOW LONG DOES INITIAL BLEEDING LAST AFTER A MISCARRIAGE?
You will typically experience a slow bleed for up to a week following the miscarriage or procedure. Typically, bleeding stops once your human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels have returned to zero. Doctors will generally monitor your blood hormone levels to ensure that your hCG levels return to zero on their own.
HOW SOON AFTER MISCARRIAGE OR D&C DO YOU GET YOUR PERIOD?
Your first period will generally return within four weeks of your hCG levels returning to zero. However, it is not uncommon for some women to experience prolonged return to ovulation and menses, which can last up to eight weeks.
WHEN WILL OVULATION RESUME?
In many cases, ovulation will not occur during your first cycle, as your body is still recovering. In most cases, your IVF doctor will wait for you to experience one or two cycles before starting medications for a repeat medical cycle and transfer. During this time, your cervix will remain soft and open, which may make intercourse painful.
WHEN TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT EXTENDED BLEEDING AFTER A MISCARRIAGE
In the cases of a natural miscarriage especially, you’ll want to pay special attention to how long your initial bleed lasts and how frequently you experience a recurrence of bleeding. In these cases, it is possible that some tissue may have been retained in the uterus and is preventing your body from healing. If you continue to experience light spotting over an extended time, it could be possible that your body is having trouble returning to regular hormone levels. You will want to speak with your doctor if you experience any case of extended bleeding.
PROLONGED ABSENCE OF MENSES (NO PERIOD AFTER MISCARRIAGE)
A prolonged return of menstruation is not normal. While it can take up to eight weeks for your body to properly recover and return to having regular cycles, some women will experience an even longer delay. This is typically experienced after a D&C as opposed to a natural miscarriage and may indicate the presence of new scar tissue or fibroids inside of the uterus. If you have not experienced a menstrual bleed by 10 weeks following the miscarriage or procedure, it is important that you notify your doctor.
At Growing Generations, we are here for you every step of the way. Contact Growing Generations to learn more.
Related Posts
Progesterone is a hormone that is commonly administered in oil to surrogates. Naturally, you may have questions about how progesterone is mixed with oil for IVF injections.
ALL ABOUT PROGESTERONE IN OIL FOR IVF
It’s commonly believed that women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. See the research that may challenge this belief at Growing Generations.
ARE YOU BORN WITH ALL YOUR EGGS?
Delve into the intricacies of surrogacy with Dr. Kathy Salari of Mitera, exploring maternal-fetal medicine, recommendations for surrogates and intended parents, and the significance of early genetic screening.
ASK AN EXPERT: DR. KATHY SALARI ANSWERS MEDICAL QUESTIONS ON SURROGACY
Many women experience bleeding during pregnancy, and bleeding in an IVF pregnancy can be extra worrisome. Learn more about this here.
BLEEDING IN IVF PREGNANCY
One question we commonly receive when surrogates are preparing for embryo transfer is whether embryos can fall out after a transfer. Get the answer and the reasons behind it here.
CAN AN EMBRYO FALL OUT AFTER TRANSFER?
Learn about the D&C procedure, often recommended after a miscarriage or abnormal pregnancy, including its process, potential complications, and signs to monitor during recovery to ensure proper healing.
D&C PROCEDURE AFTER MISCARRIAGE: RISKS & RECOVERY
When an embryo implant does not become a viable pregnancy, it forces a difficult decision. This guide details your option of a D&C procedure vs a natural miscarriage.
D&C VS NATURAL MISCARRIAGE
When using IVF, determining gestational age may not be as straightforward as you think. Learn more about how to calculate IVF gestational age from Growing Generations.
DETERMINING THE AGE OF THE EMBRYO AFTER IVF
Finding fluid in your uterus on your ultrasound isn’t necessarily a reason for alarm, but it does raise some questions.
FLUID IN YOUR UTERUS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Parents using IVF to achieve pregnancy are often confused about when they should announce the pregnancy—the reality is there is no right answer. Get three perspectives on the matter here.
IVF PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: WHEN & HOW TO RELAY BABY NEWS
You may hear these labor and delivery terms flying around during the hours that lead up to the birth of your child.
LABOR & DELIVERY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
"Mock cycle" and "dropped cycle" are similar jargons with different implications for the surrogate. Learn more about these terms here.
MOCK CYCLE IN IVF VS. DROPPED CYCLE
Pelvic rest is a necessary part of any surrogacy, but many people aren’t sure what exactly it requires. Learn the details here.
PELVIC REST: WHAT IS IT & WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?
You may be hearing about PGD & PGS as tests you can have done on developing embryos, but what are they? Learn all about them here.
PGD & PGS: WHAT ARE THEY?
Even before an embryo transfer occurs, a surrogate is considered “pregnant.” Read the reason why and learn more about the stages of embryo development.
UNDERSTANDING EMBRYO STAGES & DEVELOPMENT WITH IVF
