Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    I know a woman who had an abortion at age 14, miscarried in
    her fifth month at age 20, and had a normal, full-term
    delivery at age 25.

    I know another woman who had an abortion at age 16, and has
    since had two normal, full-term deliveries.

    This isn't proof, but this limited experience leads me to
    believe that, at least sometimes, an abortion has little or
    no effect on later ability to get pregnant.  In your
    position, I think I would talk with my doctor and start
    investigating possibilities.  Maybe your hormone level has
    changed because of a change in body weight.  Maybe your
    present SO has a low sperm count, or your body chemistry
    doesn't "match" with his somehow.  From what you've said
    here, it could be anything, not necessarily internal damage
    from an abortion.

    -- Linda

    
    Don't Panic!!!!
    I can NAME six people i know personally who have had abortions and
    later have had normal kids. I am from a Third World country where
    contraceptives are not always available and are really expensive
    when they are. ALso, the school of thought there is that NO decent
    girl has sex before marriage. So abortions are done, and I
    believe that one can get a much better abortion here in the U.S
    than over there.
    The point is that your inability to conceive most likely has nothing
    to do with your prior abortion, so consulting the doctor is the
    correct thing to do.
    
    Desryn
    

    
    yes,you are right i know that i am still able to conceive but it's
    just been too long;i've havn't been on birth-control for two years
    or close to it,and still i havn't been able to have a baby i tried
    at one time that ovolution chart thingy but it took too long and
    i didn't have patience for it,again thanks to all the responses
    im getting but has anyone had a similiar situation where it took
    the really long like 4 years to 7 years with out birth-cotrol to
    have a baby????
    angelina

    
    Angelina, 
    
    As I wrote in another note, it took my friend, Sandy, over four
    years to conceive after going off the pill.  She and her husband
    were almost certain that "baby-making" was not their destiny until
    little Graylin made her initial appearance.  Another one of my
    friends didn't have her own for ten years after going off the pill.
    She adopted two kids in the meantime and was finally surprised with 
    little Tommy.  (She also had two abortions, BTW.)
    
    Stop fretting.  SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!!!  (And let us know how it goes...)
    
    Carol
    

    Yes, see  your  doctor,  but  don't  panic. The chances of getting
    pregnant are 75% per year without contraception, so there's a 1 in
    16  chance  that you wouldn't be pregnant by now assuming both you
    and your SO are fertile.  These things often take time.

--David

    
    	   I understand that everyone who has responded so far is
    	trying to be supportive.  Please believe me when I say I am,
    	as well.
    
    	   Curettage (the most common form of abortion) can leave
    	scar tissue in the uterus, and more significantly, on the
    	uterus wall, where the zygote attaches itself roughly seven
    	days after fertilization.  If the scar tissue is significant,
    	it can prevent the zygote from attaching to the uterus wall,
    	thus preventing impregnation.
    
    	   As others have suggested, you should see a gynocologist
    	to determine if this might be your problem.  As you want to
    	conceive, I sincerely hope this is not your problem.
    
    	- Greg

    Angelina,
    
    It's been a while since your first note, so I hope you've succeeded in
    getting pregnant.  I myself have been actively trying for 3 years but
    am still going thru the infertility treadmill.
    
    I fully understand the frustration you're going thru.  When we got
    married almost 6 years ago, we planned to have fun for 3 years, and
    then have a baby when I turn 32.  Well, was I surprised that it didn't
    happen exactly as I planned!  After a lifetime of trying not to get
    pregnant, now I can't even get pregnant when I'm good and ready?!
    
    I went thru almost a year of the temperature charting before I went
    thru those painful and degrading tests, which took about another year. 
    After that, I was referred to a fertility expert who has been working
    on me for 6 mos.  They didn't find anything wrong until the laparoscopy
    during which he discovered endometriosis.  Since the surgery, I was put
    on a hormonal injection (Lupron) which has made me sick for almost 4
    mos now with a low-grade fever and exhaustion, aside from the wicked
    hot flashes.  I had to take a leave of absence for 4 mos, and still
    haven't returned to work yet.
    
    After this ordeal, I hope and pray to be able to get pregnant finally. 
    I know how it is to want something so bad and not get it.  I guess my
    "maternal cravings" suddenly burst forth when my sister had her baby
    about 3 years ago.  Since then, it seems everyone I know in the world
    is having babies, some for the second time.  Dodging baby questions
    from friends and relatives gets tough and then tedious; try explaining 
    endometriosis to my grandmother who doesn't even speak English!
    
    Well, Angelina, I hope the best for you and that you've received some
    comfort from my story just knowing there are a lot of women who have
    similar problems in trying for a baby.  Hang in there!
    
    -Stella