Does the time to conception increase or decrease after having given
birth (i.e. does the ease of conception change)? I want scientific
references. Please ask if the question needs clarification. Comments
and answers are welcomed. Thank you!

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 12 Sep 2005 13:06 PDT

Hi Pederson,

   Are you actually asking if it's easier to become pregnant after one
has aready delivered a baby?

  Regards, Crabcakes

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Clarification of Question by pedersen-ga on 12 Sep 2005 13:29 PDT

Crabcakes

Yes, that is correct.

Best regards, pedersen-ga

Hello Pederson,

   I've not found any scientific proof to answer your question. In
fact, this is all I have found at all.


?Myth 10: I conceived my first baby easily, so the next pregnancies
should be easy to achieve.
While getting pregnant in the past should give you some comfort, it
should never give you false security. Many couples have trouble
conceiving another child. The diagnosis is called ?secondary
infertility? and in 1995, according to a government survey, 3.3
million Americans reported fertility problems after having at least
one child.
http://preconception.com/resources/articles/myths.htm


?If you used a diaphragm or cap before you became pregnant, check with
your doctor or clinic to make sure it still fits. This is because your
cervix and vagina change shape during pregnancy and birth. If you
later lose or gain more than 3kg (7 pounds) you must get the fitting
checked again.?
http://www.fpa.org.uk/guide/pregnan/

Regards, Crabakes

Thank You, Crabcakes. 

It is not the level of evidence that I was seeking, but thank you any way.

Best regards, Pedersen

Hi.  I found one study that detected no difference between the length
of time needed to conceive among women who had children and those who
did not.  However, it may be worth noting that the group studied was
1,000 women who did get pregnant, so women who did not succeed in
getting pregnant at all were excluded through the study design.  This
is study (1) referenced below.  I also found several other studies
looking at time to conception after using (and stopping) a particular
form of conception.  All of these found that women who had children
took longer to conceive (again) than women who had no children.  These
are  studies 2-4 referenced below.

It's important to note that as women age, our fertility declines. 
Since on average women with children are probably older, it would be
important to control for that fact to determine what impact having
already had kids has on fertility.

I hope this information is helpful.

The studies I found are -- 

(1) Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2005 Jul 26; Use of various
contraceptive methods and time of conception in a community-based
population.
Kaplan B, Nahum R, Yairi Y, Hirsch M, Pardo J, Yogev Y, Orvieto R.

(2) Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2002 Mar;7(1):24-30.  Return
to fertility in nulliparous and parous women after removal of the
GyneFix intrauterine contraceptive system.
Delbarge W, Batar I, Bafort M, Bonnivert J, Colmant C, Dhont M, Fonze
V, Gevers R, Janssens D, Lavalley P, Salmin E, Degueldre M, Vrijens M,
Van Kets H, Wildemeersch D.

(3) Med J Malaysia. 1994 Dec;49(4):348-50.  The return of fertility
after discontinuation of oral contraception in Malaysian women.
Hassan J, Kulenthran A, Thum YS.

(4) J Obstet Gynaecol. 1986 Apr;6 Suppl 2:S110-5.  Return of fertility
in women discontinuing injectable contraceptives.
    Fotherby K, Howard G.

Thank you, bogart99!

Your references indicates that there is no or at least not a big
difference in time to conception between primipara and multipara.

Best regards, 

Pedersen

I am Dr. Minh N. Ho, a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist.

The major factor that affects the fertility and fecundity ( chance to
get pregnant in one month) of a woman is "age". Aging affects the egg
pool and quality of a woman's eggs. Next, still, the male factor (
sperm quality), and tubal, uterine factor.

All these factors change with time and circumstances.

Hence, prior fertility may not mean that the second time should be any
easier, at all.

Regards,

Minh N. Ho, M.D.
http://www.ivfdoc.com

Thank you, dr. Minh N. Ho for your comment.

Best regards,

Perdsen