There is a common notion that women are more fertile after having a baby, raising questions such as “How long after birth are you extra...
There is a common notion that women are more fertile after having a baby, raising questions such as “How long after birth are you extra fertile ?” or “How are you extra fertile after birth ?”
Postpartum fertility is a complex topic involving different variables such as hormonal balances and breastfeeding.
After giving birth, women who are not breastfeeding can expect to ovulate again within 3-4 weeks, this means they are fertile again. There may be signs of this returning fertility such as cervical mucus changes, abdominal pain related to ovulation (mittelschmerz) or a slight change in basal body temperature.The first menstruation occurs 6-8 weeks postpartum and this is a major sign that menstrual cycles are returning to normal.
Due to the gap between the first postpartum ovulation and first postpartum menstruation, there is a period of 3-4 weeks where a woman can get pregnant again even before her first period. This can lead to notions such as women being extra fertile after childbirth.
Additionally when ovulation/menstrual cycles return to normal for women, the increased blood flow to the reproductive organs due to the recent pregnancy might facilitate any easier conception. However equally, the hormonal imbalances associated with a recent pregnancy might make conception more difficult. Individual health conditions and pre-existing gynaecological conditions such as Polycystic Ovaries, or endometriosis might also affect postpartum fertility.
Women who are exclusively breastfeeding might notice an increased delay in returning to fertility. This is because frequent and exclusive breastfeeding through a process known as lactational amenorrhea leads to the sustained circulation of a hormone called Prolactin in the body, leading to the suppression of ovulation.
In this article, we hope to give you an overview of postpartum fertility and answer some of your questions regarding this topic. For more personalized fertility advice for yourself, we could recommend consulting with your healthcare advisor or obstetric team.
For a review of your products relating to pregnancy, and women’s health please see our women’s health essential’s page at Meds For Less.
Postpartum fertility refers to a woman’s ability to conceive again after childbirth. Postpartum fertility varies between different women depending on factors such as breastfeeding, hormonal changes and overall health.
Ovulating again is key to becoming fertile after pregnancy. Menstruation typically returns within 6-8 weeks of giving birth if the woman is not breastfeeding, however some women can ovulate as early as 3-4 weeks postpartum (even before their first period).
If women are exclusively breastfeeding, the hormones involved in this process can bring about a state known as lactational amenorrhea (LAM). LAM involves suppression of ovulation using the natural hormones involved in breastfeeding. However it is only an effective contraceptive technique if the following conditions are met:
A change in any one of these conditions can lead to an unpredictable return to fertility
Some signs of returning fertility in the women after giving birth can include:
If you are not planning another pregnancy soon after giving birth, you can discuss postpartum and long term contraception with your healthcare provider.
If you are trying to get pregnant again, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends waiting 18-24 months before conceiving again to reduce risks to the mother and baby.
Fertility undergoes significant changes after giving birth due to the hormonal shifts in the body, breastfeeding and the body’s recovery from pregnancy. Here is an brief overview of how the body’s fertility evolves after pregnancy
After childbirth, there is an initial infertile period due to high levels of a hormone called prolactin in the body, especially if the mother is breastfeeding. This is because the estrogen and progesterone levels drop immediately after birth and they take time to return to normal in different individuals. The uterus takes 6-8 weeks to heal from the effects of pregnancy but ovulation may return sooner rather than later depending on various factors.
Exclusive breastfeeding can suppress ovulation through a bodily process known as Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM). This can lead to suppression of ovulation of 6 months or longer. Once the frequency of breastfeeding decreases (introduction of solids, formula or longer sleep gaps for the child), ovulation can return unpredictably.
Non breastfeeding mothers can ovulate as quickly as 3-4 weeks postpartum and menstruate within 6-8 weeks. The first postpartum ovulation may be silent, meaning there may be no period before ovulation. Some women may also experience irregular hormonal and menstrual cycles which may take a few months to regulate.
It is important to note that despite fluctuating hormone levels can maintain infertility for a time but pregnancy can return unpredictably and unexpectedly. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends waiting 18-24 months before trying to conceive again to reduce future birth complications like preterm birth or low birth weight.
Fertility after birth (Picture 1) varies on individual factors such as breastfeeding, hormonal changes and overall health. The following is an overview of fertility after childbirth:
There is a state of natural temporary infertility in the postpartum period as the body recovers from the pregnancy. Ovulation is suppressed in the body due to high prolactin levels, especially if the woman is breastfeeding. This leads to temporary infertility in the first few weeks postpartum, however this is variable and not a reliable method of contraception.
If the woman is not breastfeeding, ovulation can return as early as 3-4 weeks postpartum. There is a bodily process known as Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM) where exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months can confer a state of infertility in the body by inhibiting ovulation.
Sometimes women can ovulate before their first period leading to fertility returning and the woman not knowing about it.
Currently there is no scientific evidence that women are naturally more fertile after childbirth. However some woman can conceive more quickly postpartum due to:
If you are planning a pregnancy soon after your first birth, please consult your obstetric team for advice and help planning.
There is no scientific evidence that there is a period of increased fertility after childbirth but fertility does return at different rates depending on the individual like breastfeeding, hormonal balances and health conditions.
Right after birth there is a period of infertility where the body goes through a recovery phase from pregnancy and where ovulation is suppressed. If the woman is not breastfeeding, ovulation can return as early as 3-4 weeks postpartum with menstruation (period bleeding) returning 6-8 weeks after birth of child.
If the woman is exclusively breastfeeding, ovulation may be delayed for several months (6+) due to the body’s natural process known as Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM). As the breastfeeding frequency decreases, ovulation can return unpredictably.
Once ovulation returns, fertility is back to longer, there is an uncertain period of 6-12 months due to individual factors and some women having more irregular cycles which can take a few months to regulate at first. If ovulation has been irregular pre-pregnancy due to other gynaecological conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian syndrome (PCOS), it might improve temporarily postpartum but eventually it will return to a pre-pregnancy state.
Some women who have previously struggled with fertility find it easier conceive postpartum possibly due to:
However the effect is not guaranteed and does not last indefinitely.
By around 12 months postpartum, fertility is usually fully restored.
Breastfeeding does affect fertility by suppressing ovulation but the extent depends on how frequent and exclusively you breastfeed. This is known as Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM) where exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months can lead to an overproduction of the hormone Prolactin which suppresses ovulation.
The LAM method can be a 98% effective way of contraception if:
If you are exclusively breastfeeding, ovulation can be suppressed for 6 months or longer. Some women do not ovulate until they start weaning their breastfeeding or reduce night feeding. Supplementing formula, or allowing longer gaps between feeding can reduce the contraceptive effects of LAM and allow ovulation to return.
Some women ovulate within 6-8 weeks postpartum (even if they are breastfeeding) while others don’t ovulate until months or even a year later. Please note that the first ovulation may occur before the first period meaning a pregnancy can occur without warning.
For more information on breastfeeding and postpartum fertility, please consult with your obstetric or midwifery team.
You can conceive as soon as your fertility improves after giving birth which can happen before you even get your first period. The timeline of returning fertility varies depending on individual factors, breastfeeding and hormonal balances in the body.
There is low postpartum fertility in the first few weeks , this is because hormone levels and the body are still adjusting and recovering from the pregnancy state. However fertility can return as soon as 3-4 weeks after pregnancy even if the woman has not had her first period yet.
Exclusive and continuous breastfeeding through the Lactational Amenorrhea method is one way that the woman can delay ovulation by 6 months or more. However as the baby gets bigger and starts to rely on formula and other food sources or as gaps between feeding increase, the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding decreases and ovulation (and fertility) can return unpredictably. Sometimes ovulation (and fertility) can return while breastfeeding as well, leading to the possibility of conception, even before your first period.
Mothers who are not breastfeeding can expect ovulation to return within 3-4 weeks postpartum and menstruation to return 6-8 weeks after childbirth.
This rapid return to ovulation makes it possible to get pregnant after childbirth, for some women even if their first postpartum menstruation has not yet occurred. This makes the chance of getting pregnant after childbirth much higher than what may be commonly conceived.
Despite this early return to fertility, the World Health Organisation recommends waiting 18-24 months before trying again to allow optimal health for both the mother and the baby.
After giving birth, it is important to start to think about contraception if you are not planning on conceiving again right away. Your fertility may return sooner than expected even while breastfeeding so understanding the options available to you is key.
It is traditionally recommended to wait 6 weeks after childbirth (Whether by vagina or C-section) before resuming sexual activity. Once you start having sex again, it is crucial to use contraception to prevent another pregnancy very soon, especially as ovulation postpartum is unpredictable and fertility in most women can return 3-4 weeks postpartum.
Exclusive and frequent breastfeeding (every 2-3 hours) can delay ovulation and act as a form of natural contraception because it will suppress ovulation naturally through the sustained release of a hormone called prolactin. This method of contraception is called Lactational Amenorrhea and is 98% effective if the following circumstances are met:
As the frequency of breastfeeding decreases, the effectiveness of this method of contraception reduces allowing ovulation to return unpredictably, making the woman fertile again.
Because of the unpredictable and rapid return to fertility, even before your first period, it’s important to start using contraception while having sex after pregnancy. Contraception options postpartum include:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends waiting 18 to 24 months postpartum before trying for another baby . This allows time for the mother to recover from the pregnancy and reduces the risk of complications for the mother and the new baby. However the best timing for each individual mother depends on her age, health and personal circumstances.
It is generally recommended to wait 18-24 months before the next pregnancy to avoid future complications such as:
Waiting 18-24 months also allows for better maternal health. The earlier pregnancy would have depleted nutrients like iron, folate and calcium which could cause issues like maternal anemia in the next pregnancy.
Women who developed issues like gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia in their previous pregnancies have a risk of developing it again in future pregnancies. They may also develop issues like hypertension or diabetes later on in life.
Babies conceived less than 18 months after a previous birth have a higher risk of developmental delays and health problems. Waiting at least 2 years gives the baby the best chance at growth and development.
In certain conditions like advancing maternal age, previous fertility struggles, personal health factors can make it reasonable to try and conceive again, less than 18 months from the prior pregnancy. Please discuss your individual health status with your healthcare provider and obstetric team for more personalised information for you.
Fertility after giving birth can return at different times for each woman depending on individual factors like hormone levels, breastfeeding habits and overall health.
The first postpartum period (not lochia) is a strong sign that your fertility has returned. It may be irregular, heavier or lighter than usual, however you can ovulate before your first period meaning you can be fertile before your first period.
As ovulation approaches, cervical mucus changes from dry/sticky to creamy, clear, slippery and stretchy (like raw egg whites). Fertile mucus helps sperm travel and survive in the reproductive tract.
Women may also incur mild abdominal and pelvic symptoms indicating ovulation has occurred. These include:
Women may also use ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) which can detect an LH surge which happens 12-36 hours before ovulation. A positive OPK indicates the body is preparing to release an egg (hence is fertile).
Overtime menstrual cycles become predictable and this is a sign that ovulation is consistent and the body is now established in a fertile state.
Fast, Discreet, and Convenient
We're here to support :)
We are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Do not use this service if you need urgent assistance. You should call 111 or 999 in an emergency. See our help section for more information.
Payment Options
