natural PG after IVF

So there is probably a post like this somewhere in the archives, but I thought it would be interesting to see how many people know couples who have conceived naturally after IVF?

We all hear about it, but is it an urban myth? In my case I have the following friends or aquaintances:

Couple 1: tried for 7 years, had OHSS on first cycle so no fresh transfer-> one embie transferred-> BFP. 12mths after he was born thet DTD ONCE and she conceived naturally.

Couple 2: TTC for 7 years (I think), changed IVF centres, had a baby and conceived naturally approx 9mths later.

Couple 3: BFP on second IVF cycle, and conceived naturally at 8mths after birth of first bub.

Couple 4: At 39yo had baby 1 after IVF, then were on IVF for years with no success for number 2. Then she conceived naturally at 45!!!!

I am showing my age here, and anyone under 38 wont know what this means but "WHY is it SO?"

Why is it so? I wonder that too.

I guess I sort of fit the category, even though I didn't keep the baby (now discovered i have blood clotting issue).

Because I conceived naturally through my remaining dodgy tube, it's made us really question whether IVF is for us....was it a fluke? or should we keep trying naturally for a while now.

In cases where it's a longterm assisted conception road, and then a natural pregnancy, I just don't know. People say, "Oh it must be because they relaxed, and it happened...see you just have to relax"...I am always unsure about that theory. But, I have to admit, when we conceived naturally, we were waiting to resume IVF...I didn't really track my cycle that month and I really didn't think I could conceive on my own anymore...but we thought we might as well try anyway...and then I was pregnant.

Who knows what makes our bodies work?

My DS is an IVF bub and we are expecting our third naturally conceived baby.

So for us we had DD 'naturally' and our second child was also conceived naturally but we m/c at 12 weeks.

We then ttc for 12 months and were diagnosed with secondary infertility, had DS after one cycle of IVF but then conceived this baby 'naturally' 12 months later. Before proceeding with IVF we were given about a 5% chance of a natural conception.

NO idea why it happens and never thought it would happen for us. Not as miraculous as some couples who are long termers but still a huge shock for us.

I personally know of a couple 3 IVF cycle's, they had a DS, then had one naturally, she was 39

I concieved 2 naturally bofore ART, unfortunatly lost both, and am on my 4th IVF cycle with no luck, all within 3 years

There is a very interesting thread, that gave me hope, and took away that whole "is my mind affecting my pregnancy chances, thought pattern", here on BB

Good thread. Possibly an urban myth, but there seems to be some truth to it:

SIL and BIL were on IVf for 8 years with male and female infertility, conceived twins on a double FET, concieved naturally 9 months after the birth - blighted ovum though. The fact that they conceived naturally at all is a miracle.

I wonder whether I'll ever conceive naturally - what a novel concept!

Friends of ours conceived their DD through IVF (not sure how many cycles as they don't like talking about it). The mother has PCOS and would get AF maybe twice a year. They were just starting the ball rolling on their first FET to TTC#2 and found out they were pg naturally.

Their Dr said it was a miracle. The Dr also said it almost never happens, but that she was the third patient that week to have it happen. Go figure...

There are always examples that people use to help keep our hopes up. TBH it annoys me as no matter what may happen, this path is full of the unknown, and while it 'may' happen, the likelihood with most of our histories is we need ART to have a successful pg and birth. Natural pg is the miracle most of the time.

But I do know of people, afterall someone has to buck the statistics and create these urban myths, who have fallen pg naturally.

A colleague tried for 5 years, did 3xIVF never had a single fertilisation of her eggs so gave up and has had 2 girls naturally since.

Another needed an ED, after multiple m/cs, unsuccessful ED cycle, found a new ED and then fell pg natually in her mid 40s only to loose the baby late in the first tri.

BTW I am moving this into the pregnancy after LTTTC thread.

One of my mother's group friends conceived their DD through IVF as they had been trying for 3 years and had 'unexplained infertility'. They wanted to try for a second and were heading off to the fertility specialist so did the pregnancy test before going and it was positive. She was 3 months pregnant and didn't realise - she thought she was tired as she had just returned back to work after mat leave.

Her take on it was that maybe her hormones had been messed up and by having the first baby her body sort of clicked as to what it should be doing and her hormones balanced out enabling her to concieve naturally the second time.

Personally I know of a two couples. They did not concieve using IVF but went on to conceive naturally.

1. TTC for 8 years, IVF & everything, then after giving up it all up 3 natural pregnancies with three healthy babies. Age when first pregnant was 38.
2. TTC for 9 months but due to age (mother 36) went straight to IVF, then natural pregnancy 6 months in to IVF while waiting for second IVF cycle - had taken medication for the 'Colorado Protocol'.

Who knows! In the second case I think it could be one of two things, one they probably panicked (due to all the negative cr*p out there about being 'too old' when over 35) and 'rushed' into IVF when they possibly didn't really need to, or the medication used for the Colorodo protocol 'fixed' the problem they had.

In the first case it was a combo of issues that made them 'infertile' but nothing absolute. She ovulates, eggs appraently ok quality, he had some sperm issues. so nothing that couldn't change or right itself possibly.

It's possible that in some cases while undergoing AC couples have 'fixed' their particular issues and that is why they get pregnant naturally afterwards??
or maybe they really are miracles?

Interesting thread, thanks drbeee.

Wow! Some amazing stories here (sorry I posted in the wrong spot though).

I have to admit that, with so many people 'around' me who did the miracle baby thing, part of me expected that to happen to us. I know thats crazy, but because we didnt have a specific cause for our issues (age related mostly) and ESPECIALLY knowing the 45yo who conceived naturally there WAS a part of me that thought 'well, why not me?'.

Anyway, we are in our first FET cycle now, and I have everything crossed for a medically assisted miracle instead! :)

Interesting thread...since falling pg through IVF, and now telling more and more people that Tex is an IVF baby, I have heard several of stories of people who have had friends that concieved through IVF and then had a second or subsequent pg naturally...people generally they then go on to kind of suggest the same will happen for us and our second will be easy!

I think that it is wonderful that for some people that happens but I also know that for us, and I'm guessing for many others it is very highly unlikely that they will concieve without assistance. I guess I get concerned that some wonderful stories get alot of 'air' and almost become the 'norm' - maybe more amoung people who have not undertaken ART than those who have. Is this setting unrealistic expecations?

I hope that I dont sound negative - i dont want to be - but I guess I just feel for those who dont get their mircle bub naturally, esp if those around them expect them to. Having said that, I think that it must be the most amazing thing to happen when the unexpected does happen :D

Good luck on your FET drbeee!
FG

Hi All,
Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but slightly similar experience just happened to me only without the IVF. I had my son at a very young age obviously without trying and awaiting AF to start on the 'pill' . About 6 months later, DP (at the time) and I wanted to try for a girl but with no luck. About 3 years later obviously beginning to worry there was something wrong, went to a fertility specialist. After reluctantly doing a few basic tests, told me I shouldn't be using my husband as a sperm doner and to come back in 10 years when it becomes a real problem. So I did that. Counting down the last few months, of my 'finally can get help date' 1 month prior, I made an appointment and went to see a very lovely man. I have never seen a fertility specialist so angry at other doctors before! He couldn't believe they didn't take me more derious BECAUSE of my age and the fact I shouldn't be having problems at that age (20) He said now that i'm 30, It may be even harder and after doing a few tests, and the fact we had now been trying for 13 years with no luck, there was NO chance of conceiving naturally. Once we saw the out of pocket costs, without private cover, we decided to wait until the 1st july for our 1 year waiting period to be up. (6 mths away) During this wait, I tried a few things to get as healthy as I could and a few more tests then after a 3000k motorcycle ride to jindabyne to see snow for the 1st time, got home and "OH MY GOD!!!" I'm pregnant!! I could not believe it!!! I said to my husband, "what did I do to change things? what was it that got me pregnant?? (so I can do it again next time) all he said was.." you finally gave me some sex!" haha very funny! :rolleyes:
The only things I did different were: Bought one of those cardio tech vibration machines, old wives tale said to have 1 or 2 guinness a week which I did, Started this really lazy way to exercise with this electrical machine that contracts your muscles while laying down in a heat wrap so you sweat like a real workout, lazer therapy on the healing light over my ovary and lower stomach area (i had ovarian cysts but 3 too short to be poly cystic and I also had this test that I've never had before, that triggers the gland in the back of your head to realease their hormones, Massive Mirgraine after that 1.. Also ever since before I had my son, I didn't get the mucous at all. I also have hormonal acne and asked a new doctor to give me antibiotics cause I just couldn't take it any more. The antiboitics made me get the mucous back. That month with all this going on, I fell Pregnant for the 1st time in 13 1/2 years. So which one was it? I don't think I'll ever know and just do it all again next time??? :pray:
Sorry for the long dribble but it was a 13yr long story! :redface:
I consider this baby to be my miricle baby. :dance:

I have a friend who after 5 years of IVF finally had 2 DS, 18mths apart, when 2nd DS was about 2 she felt unwell and found out she was 10 weeks pg with DS3 her hubby had the snip and low and behold 2 1/2 years later DS4 appeared :lol:

my story isn't IVF but fertility treatement related
1st pg natural ectopic,
2nd pg natural s/b @ 21 weeks,
we tried for 13 mths nothing went on clomid 3rd cycle pg m/c at 7 weeks,
had another short break then 3rd cycle clomid pg m/c at 10 weeks,
2 cycles clomid conceived Jack, t
ried for 8mths nothing so back on clomid 9 cycles pg m/c at 7 weeks
again lots of cycles clomid in dec last year we decided enough was enough happy with our Jack 2 cycles low and behold pg seriously no idea how it happened total fluke as I had been unwell and had stuff all sex :lol:

Jessica Rowe

My cousin couldn't concieve for years & years she eventually fell pg through IVF well into her 30's then after many FET's she was about to do another full stim cycle and she fell pg naturally.

I'm sure there is something in this. Yes it won't be the case for everyone, but I'm amazed at the stats in my gang alone!

So, I have 4 friends who've done IVF, after variously TTC 2-5 years.

2 friends had successful fresh transfer and live birth. And both of them later fell preg naturally about a year after having the first IVF bub.

1 friend had unsuccessful fresh transfer, no frosties. The following month, she fell naturally. (She had been TTC for 5 years).

The 4th friend had first naturally, then 2 x IVF, so not as interesting.

I guess all of these girls were subfertile rather than infertile. The one who tried for 5 years is convinced that the hormones she injected for IVF were what she needed to kick her reproductive system into gear.

I'd love to know if a study has been done on this phenomenon.

A very good frined of mine has.

Her and hubbie had unexplained infertility and TTC for 8 years and tried everything then moved onto IVF where they had 1 daughter but she passed away at 18 months then they had another daughter by IVF and deided that becasue they have some embryos still frozen to have them transferred and they had another daughter from that. They never used protection after that and fell pragnant when their daughter was 10 months old naturally! She is due to give birth in 2 weeks and is 38 and hubby is 40.

So it can happen

Google to the risk...this BBC article on this very topic is very interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/253374.stm

Quote:

Infertility doctors have long been aware of "spontaneous conception" - a naturally occurring pregnancy after the birth of a child conceived through in vitro fertilisation.

Now a Japanese study points to who is most likely to benefit from the effect.

It found that overall there was an 18% chance of spontaneous conception after IVF treatment, but that the likelihood rose to 37% among women under the age of 27.

Certainly a common phenomenon - and I think the effect pregnancy can have on regulating hormones can certainly help. The same can be said for couples who spend years TTC naturally, eventually do, and then 6 or so months after giving birth, discover they are pregnant again.
One theory is that couples (chiefly women) going through IVF are so vigilant with their diet and exposure to toxins etc, that they actually eradicate a large portion of toxicity that their bodies were previously holding onto, and hence created a barrier to conception.
This vigilance usually carries through to the pregnancy, and particularly if the woman breastfeeds, this triggers the body to metabolise and release an even greater proportion of toxins (heavy metals, pesticides, personal care chemicals etc) so the body is more 'primed' for natural conception at the end of this experience than it was prior to the TTC journey.
So too do men learn alot about the way various lifestyle and environmental factors effect the health of sperm when going through the IVF process and are more likely to have made various changes which are hospitable to natural conception occuring down the track.

This is abit different but I recently looked after a woman (as a midwife) who has 7 IVF attempts. I think 3 were stim cycles and the rest FET. Well she said she couldn't afford any more and then 12months later fell pregnant naturally. They couldn't believe how it happened (deep discussion with the Obby about it.) It wasn't all smooth sailing she had a stitch in at 26weeks (very scary) and recently gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl at 38weeks.

Great post thanks Jellybean, those reasons make a lot of sense

Well, booger me! I started this post ages ago out of interest and now I get to add myself to it!

Just found out that I am somewhere between 3 weeks, 4 days and 4 weeks, 2 days pregnant, naturally! Obviously things may not go well (I am 41), but I remain full of hope and love that it will.:pray:

I had a loss and D/C in August and started to bleed 5 days ago. Thinking this was AF I fronted up and clinic to start my next protocol. They gave me drugs, took blood and sent me off. Later they said I had some HCG in my system and not to use drugs. test yesterday confirmed rising levels! They said the bleeding might be implantation bleeding!

We only DTD once after the D/C (after our anniversary dinner and good wine!) , but have no idea when I O'd, hence the range of poss dates.

Woo.

Congratulations drbeee!

I'm also in the same position - I posted our friends' story above but can now add my own... We've done 6 IUI, 3 IVF and 1 FET in the last 18 months - all BFN. Today I got a BFP on a digi (pictures are on my blog). We haven't even spoken to our IVF clinic since June and all I've done since then was to start acupuncture at the beginning of last cycle.

Oh Juniper that is just wonderful news! Hugest of congratulations :).

Sadly things didnt work out for us with this little miracle bub, but we will keep trying-assisted AND 'au naturel!'. Good luck!

I'm so sorry to hear that. :grouphug:

Drbeee and Juniper, how amazing that you both got your natural BFP so soon after posting to this thread!!

Drbeee, I'm so sorry that your miracle preg didn't stick hon :hug:

Our DS2 is our miracle bubs-
Have 'unexplained infertility'- 10 years trying/charting/natropaths/clomid/FS/ temping etc
We did 3 stim cycles and got our twins who were born very prem and it was a harrowing birth full of medical intervention and sick babies afterwards

then did another 4 cycles with no success until we had a missed m/c after a FET at 12 weeks.
My DH then decided that he couldnt go on the IVF rollercoaster anymore so i told him to tell me when he was ready again and would do it then.

Jan that year I started do a/puncture after this and was told that i was fertilizing each month, but lining was not thick enough at the same time for implantation and it would take about 6 months to get happening- finally an answer

June that year he came home and out of the blue said 'Let's do it!" so i rang my clinic and booked in to start next cycle. AF was due the next week and it never came! We got a BFP on our own !!!! I was allready a week pg when DH decided that it was time to try again!!!!!

I ended up with a full term VBAC- so DS2 birth and conception was the most healing thing i have ever been through!!!
so YES miracles can and do happen