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Quick answer
According to Dr. Marc Sklar, The Fertility Expert, recurrent chemical pregnancies are usually a sign of a treatable underlying issue — not a “broken” body. In this HOPE Program success story:
- The problem: years of recurrent chemical pregnancies after being told to “just keep trying” or go straight to IVF.
- What was missed: comprehensive testing revealed undiagnosed PCOS and hypothyroidism — conditions that can affect egg quality, ovulation, and progesterone.
- What helped: a personalized protocol targeting insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, egg quality, and inflammation.
- The result: a healthy, sustained pregnancy in about three months. (Timelines vary from person to person.)
The takeaway: chemical pregnancies mean conception is happening. The goal becomes helping the body sustain the pregnancy — which starts with finding the root cause.
For years, she saw the same thing happen again and again: a positive test, a flicker of hope, then a period arriving just a day or two late. Chemical pregnancy after chemical pregnancy. She was told to “keep trying” or jump to IVF — but no one investigated why it kept happening. Over more than two decades helping thousands of women conceive naturally, I’ve learned that this pattern almost always has an explanation. Here’s her story, what the testing revealed, and what it may mean for you.
What is a chemical pregnancy, and why do they keep happening?
A chemical pregnancy is a very early pregnancy loss that occurs shortly after implantation — often before anything shows on an ultrasound. You may get a positive test because the embryo began to implant and produce hCG, but the pregnancy stops progressing and a period follows, sometimes only slightly late.
Recurrent chemical pregnancies are frustrating precisely because they show conception is happening. As I often tell members: a chemical pregnancy is not proof you can’t get pregnant — it’s evidence that you can. Common contributors can include egg quality that isn’t yet optimal (often linked to PCOS, inflammation, age, or nutrient status), low progesterone or a short luteal phase, thyroid dysfunction, immune or clotting factors, chromosomal factors, and less commonly uterine factors.
What to do instead of “just keep trying”: ask for a fuller investigation before repeating cycles. Recurrent chemical pregnancies are worth working up properly rather than treating as bad luck.
Why doesn’t birth control “fix” irregular periods?
Her story started in her teens: periods that were never regular, and at one point a full year with none at all. The advice she received was the standard one — go on birth control to “fix” her cycles. But hormonal birth control creates a predictable withdrawal bleed; it generally does not address why a cycle is irregular. For someone with an underlying condition like PCOS or thyroid dysfunction, that root cause can stay hidden for years.
What to do instead: if your periods have never been regular, ask for testing that looks for a cause — not only a prescription that manages the symptom.
Why does “wait a year and see” often fail women with irregular cycles?
At 27, she and her husband were ready to try. Her OB recommended waiting a year to see if pregnancy happened on its own. But for someone who has never ovulated predictably, “wait and see” can mean losing time without gaining information. Progesterone was used to trigger periods, then Clomid to prompt ovulation. On her first Clomid cycle, she had her first chemical pregnancy — and over roughly a year on Clomid, the pattern repeated.
What to do instead: when medication is used to force ovulation, pair it with an investigation into egg quality and the hormonal environment, so you understand what the medication is — and isn’t — addressing.
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How can undiagnosed PCOS affect egg quality and early miscarriage?
When she joined the HOPE Program, we started with comprehensive testing — not just a day-3 and day-21 hormone check. That work-up looked at a full hormone picture across the cycle, comprehensive thyroid markers (not TSH alone), markers associated with PCOS, inflammatory markers, nutrient status, and metabolic function.
For the first time in her journey, she received a diagnosis: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a common hormonal and metabolic condition that can influence insulin sensitivity, inflammation, ovulation, and egg quality. Those irregular teenage cycles and the difficulty ovulating fit the pattern. Testing also pointed to hypothyroidism — and because thyroid hormone plays a role in ovulation, progesterone, and sustaining early pregnancy, an underactive thyroid can be a contributor to recurrent early loss in some women.
What to do instead of accepting “unexplained”: ask whether your work-up has actually ruled out common, treatable causes like PCOS and thyroid dysfunction. In my experience, much of what gets labeled “unexplained” simply hasn’t been fully investigated.
What kind of protocol helped — and why did it work?
Every plan we build is individualized to a person’s testing, symptoms, and goals, so her exact protocol isn’t a template. But the areas we focused on map directly to the issues her testing revealed.
For PCOS, the focus was supporting insulin sensitivity and blood-sugar balance, reducing inflammation, and supporting healthy ovulation. Nutrients such as inositol are commonly used in PCOS to support ovulation and egg quality, alongside dietary changes. For thyroid function, we supported the nutrients the thyroid relies on, worked on reducing inflammation, and coordinated with her medical provider where thyroid medication was appropriate. For egg quality, we used a foundational approach that often includes antioxidants and mitochondrial support such as CoQ10 (ubiquinol), plus dietary and lifestyle changes to reduce oxidative stress — egg quality responds over a roughly 90-day window, which is why consistency matters. For overall fertility, we addressed gut health, stress, sleep, avoidable toxin exposure, and cycle tracking.
What to do instead of a one-size-fits-all supplement list: match the plan to your actual test results. The same symptom can have different drivers, and the drivers are what determine the plan.
How long did it take her to get pregnant?
About three months after starting a plan built around her real diagnoses, she conceived — and this time the pregnancy was sustained. She is now holding her baby. I want to be honest about timelines: three months is wonderful, but it isn’t a promise. Some women conceive in a few months, others take six, nine, or longer, depending on the underlying issues and how long they’ve been present. What’s consistent is the approach — identify the cause, address it directly, and support the whole system.
In her words: “I think I would have never found that I had PCOS if I hadn’t joined Marc… He narrowed down specifically why I was having all these egg quality issues, and it was because of my PCOS.”
What should you do if this sounds like you?
If you have irregular periods, recurrent chemical pregnancies, or you’ve been told everything is “normal” but still aren’t getting pregnant, the most useful next step is usually better information — a fuller work-up that looks beyond the standard panels. Your body is likely not broken; you may simply be missing the piece of the puzzle that explains the pattern. Once you have that information and address the root cause, things can shift.
Ready for a personalized plan?
Book a fertility assessment with Dr. Sklar and his team. We review your full picture — cycle, symptoms, and labs — and build a roadmap tailored to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chemical pregnancy a real pregnancy?
Yes. A chemical pregnancy is an early pregnancy that ended shortly after implantation, and a positive test reflects real hCG production. It is a very early loss, and recurrent chemical pregnancies are worth investigating rather than dismissing.
Can you get pregnant naturally with PCOS?
Many women with PCOS do conceive naturally, particularly when the underlying drivers — such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and ovulation issues — are addressed. Management can improve both ovulation and egg quality over time.
Can thyroid problems cause chemical pregnancies?
Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism, can affect ovulation and progesterone and is recognized as a possible contributor to early pregnancy loss in some women. This is why comprehensive thyroid testing — not TSH alone — can be valuable when losses recur.
How long does it take to improve egg quality?
Egg development happens over roughly a 90-day window, so egg-quality strategies are generally given at least three months to take effect. Consistency during that window matters more than any single supplement.
What testing should I ask for with recurrent chemical pregnancies?
Beyond basic hormone checks, it can be helpful to look at a full cycle hormone picture, comprehensive thyroid markers, markers associated with PCOS and insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, and nutrient status. Ask your provider which are appropriate for your situation.
Is this a substitute for medical care?
No. This is educational and works best alongside your own healthcare provider. Individual results vary, and any medication or supplement decisions should be made with a qualified clinician who knows your history.
About Dr. Marc Sklar, The Fertility Expert
Dr. Marc Sklar is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine and a nationally recognized natural fertility specialist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Known as The Fertility Expert, he is the founder of the HOPE Program and host of Fertility TV, and he has helped thousands of women conceive naturally — many told they had no chance without IVF. Learn about the HOPE Program →
References & further reading
- Watch the member’s testimonial: video testimonial.
- Rebecca Fett. It Starts With the Egg. Franklin Fox Publishing.
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Patient guidance on recurrent pregnancy loss and preconception health. reproductivefacts.org.
This article shares a client success story for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Individual results vary. Talk with your own healthcare provider about your specific situation.
