Deciding whether to try again throughout Covid 19

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

Hi,

I had an ectopic pregnancy in December 2019 which was treated by methotrexate and I was discharged with a low enough Hcg in mid January 2020. I have been counting down the months to when we can try again, and completed the 3 months of folic early April. We decided to wait for another month to give my body enough time to recover and then due to covid 19 decided to push back trying to another month also. These decisions of pushing it back further were difficult but I was happy to do so to be sensible. I am now really wanting to try again early next month, I feel like I am mentally and physically ready to try again and I want to move on after feeling in limbo for the past few months. My partner is concerned and would rather wait until July, due to Covid-19 but it just seems so far away and I am worried the situation could get worse with the relaxing of rules meaning there won’t be a good time to try again for the next handful of months. Is anyone else struggling with this decision? The fear is that we might not get the level of care if it’s ectopic again due the pandemic, for surgery etc and there are other downsides including my husband not being able to join at the scans etc, however it doesn’t look like the pandemic is going to be resolved that soon so I don’t think that will change for a while and I’m finding it hard to think of much else. Many of my peers are pregnant too and I’m struggling to get it out of my mind. We plan to see what happens over the next few weeks but I feel pretty anxious about it all.

Thanks

2

Hi 19457,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss. Trying to conceive can be a challenging time particularly after loss and especially in the current difficult circumstances.

Usually, women are advised to book an early scan when they are next pregnant with their Early Pregnancy Unit. This is to check that the embryo is in the right place and takes place at around 6 weeks’ gestation. However, in the current climate with coronavirus, the National Health Service is seeing a reduction in resources and capacity and there is the aim to minimise hospital attendance. In light of this, guidance by the RCOG states:

“Unfortunately, early pregnancy units will not be able to offer ultrasound scans to provide reassurance to women who have no symptoms. This will also be the case even if you have a previous history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.”

This means that is a woman is pregnant again after an ectopic pregnancy, she would not be able to have an early scan in the current pandemic.

There is no official guidance in the UK about trying for a baby at this time and whether to start trying to conceive is a personal choice. A key consideration is a woman’s personal medical history particularly concerning an ectopic pregnancy and getting the care that she would need with any future pregnancy. The Association of Early Pregnancy Units suggests that women consider waiting until the pandemic is over before trying to conceive. This is to minimise the burden on the health service and to ensure women have full access to early pregnancy and maternity care. Ultimately, it is a woman/couple’s decision.

I know that may not be as definitive as you were hoping. The Trust will be updating guidance as it becomes available, and we are more than happy to speak with you at the contact number provided in our signature.

With good wishes,

Michele

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

Registered Charity Number: 1071811

Ectopic pregnancy patient information suite: Highly Commended in the 2019 BMA Patient Information Awards

During the coronavirus outbreak, The EPT team is still working hard to provide crucial information and support to women and families experiencing ectopic pregnancy as quickly and efficiently as we can.

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Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk

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