I was diagnosed with an ectopic three weeks ago and am being treated by conservative management as my levels are dropping well naturally. My hcg is now 65 as of Tuesday so probably lower now. I just wondered how long I should expect to bleed for with this. I started bleeding nearly four weeks ago and am still having light bleeding which is mostly brown now but today I have started having period cramps and some light red bleeding again which I had about a week ago. When will the bleeding stop? Thanks.
Dear blinc,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
To answer your question, the first bleed that occurs after ectopic pregnancy is not classed as a period. It is the body’s response to falling hormone levels because you are sadly no longer pregnant. The body expels the lining of the uterus that had built up in preparation for the pregnancy because it is no longer needed. This process involves vaginal bleeding - it can be clotty or like one of your usual periods and some women have bleeding/spotting for up to six weeks. It is a good idea to keep a close eye on your bleeding and using sanitary pads helps judge this. If you are soaking more than a pad in an hour, you should get medical attention.
Sending much love,
Karen x
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