Melisa:  Good to see you're out of lurking.  Just as with the women who
have their menses return "prematurely" (ie. before 12-14 months), there are
women who have very delayed return of either or both ovulation and menses.
Is this woman sure she's ovulating?  According to Dr. Miriam Labbok and
Molly Pessl, RN, IBCLC, they suspect about 5% of women fall into this
"extended" infertility pattern.  I have heard both of them address this at
different conferences.  Labbok seems to believe that one 8 hour break from
nursing is all it takes to trigger ovulation in 95% of women, but a very
few women will not conceive until no suckling occurs.  There is anecdotal
evidence about others who will conceive, but as long as they are nursing,
will have habitual miscarriage.  There is relatively little substantiated
research on this topic (Do I hear a research study?") If she is NOT
ovulating, there are herbs one can take while breastfeeding that can
encourage ovulation (red clover, red raspberry, dandelion, alfalfa, and
others).  I'd go that route before/instead of infertility testing and
drugs.  If she is ovulating and conceiving but not sustaining the
pregnancy, progesterone may be prescribed or she can see an ND or herbalist
for wild yam dosages.

: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
: )LLLLLLLLLLLLL**CHANGE THE WORLD, NURTURE A CHILD!**LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL : )