Hello,
I have had 2 rounds of Methotrexate and pleased to hear my levels down to 59 now but I am slightly concerned about reading on one of the other messages about the mass not being absorbed and you wouldn’t know… After 3 miscarriages and an ectopic, would a HyCoSy be beneficial? I think it would give me peace of mind…
Thank you.
My understanding is once your hcg is 0 the fetal tissue has expelled from your body. If you are concerned you can keep testing with pregnancy strips. Plus at a hcg of 0 you should ovulate and have a period around 2 weeks later signs the embryo has gone. A hycosy is going to cost you £500 at least when you will probably be advised its unnecessary. I know the price as I had one a few years ago for fertility checking.
And sorry for your loss, I’ve had one ectopic and going through one miscarriage now so I know what it’s like. It’s hard.
That was my thought too! But then I read on a forum, that some women had been discharged when hcg was 0 but then 1 woman had a scan at 3 months and another at 6 months and the mass was still there, which has freaked me out! I imagine that’s not the general norm but still would like to know before TTC again…
I am so so sorry you are experiencing another loss… Sending you lots of love and strength 
I would say that’s very rare a woman still with fetal tissue in her body with her HCG at 0 and having monthly periods. I do understand wanting to be extra careful. I had a pregnancy in an unknown location, they didn’t pick up a pregnancy in any scans but when my HCG rise, dipped, rose again, my left hip was hurting, I was told it was ectopic, I was given no time to decide, had to be surgery or methotrexate and of course I chose the injection… but getting pregnant again my left hip hurt again nowhere near as bad or often, I’m aware it could have been so many things like I have a fibroid in the same location so maybe hormones affecting it. But because of it I’ve been regretting my decision I feel I should have got that tube removed so I don’t have to worry like that again. Especially after a 12 week ordeal of pain. So I get the wanting to be better safe than sorry for sure.
Deerdancer:
That was my thought too! But then I read on a forum, that some women had been discharged when hcg was 0 but then 1 woman had a scan at 3 months and another at 6 months and the mass was still there, which has freaked me out! I imagine that’s not the general norm but still would like to know before TTC again…I am so so sorry you are experiencing another loss… Sending you lots of love and strength
Dear deerdancer,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,
Sadly there is very little research to show how long it takes for any mass to be reabsorbed. The thought is that by the time you are ready to ttc, after taking folic acid for 12 weeks once hCG levels are at pre pregnancy levels, any mass should have naturally reabsorbed.
After sadly experiencing 3 miscarriages and having an ectopic pregnancy, you would be eligible to be referred to a fertility specialist.
Sadly, there are no tests or investigations that can be done to assure you that you will not experience an ectopic pregnancy again. Unfortunately, tubal patency tests cannot provide complete peace of mind. Even if a tubal patency test shows an open Fallopian tube, it does not show whether it will work – only a normally located pregnancy can show that at least one Fallopian tube worked.
The test is not 100% accurate as the Fallopian tubes can go into spasm during the test and can appear blocked even though this is not the case. This can cause unnecessary anxiety if the Fallopian tube is affected by spasm but in face is actually working normally. The test cannot determine what the internal villi of the Fallopian tube look like, which is why it is not routinely offered in the UK.
I would however advise being referred to a fertility specialist, who.will be able to answer more questions for you.
Sending much love,
Karen
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
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Hi Karen,
I’m interested in what you’ve said about the HyCoSy scan and that even if it shows an open fallopian tube it doesn’t show this will work- can you please expand on what you mean by that?
I had an ectopic recently which thankfully passed with expectant management and I want to start trying to conceive again after my next period but I was planning on getting this scan for at least SOME ease of mind if it shows my tubes as open, or otherwise identifying that they’re closed then I would know that an ectopic would just happen again and I should potentially move straight to trying with IVF instead but your comment has made me think this is maybe not the case?
Any further info you can share would be appreciated.
I had an ectopic through a fresh ivf transfer so I hope you’re aware that ectopic pregnancies can still happen via IVF in fact it’s been said the chances are higher than natural conception.
Dear thisgirlcan,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,
The test shows if the tubes are open but does not show the function of the tubes. The Fallopian tubes have small hair-like projections called cilia on the cells of the lining. These cilia are essential to the movement of the egg through the tube into the uterus. If the tubal cilia are damaged, the egg may not get ‘pushed along’ normally but may stay in the tube. The test will not show if the cilia are working.
Occasionally the tube may also go into spasm during the test and this can make the tube appear blocked when in fact it is not.
I hope this helps,
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
The EPT is awarded the PIF TICK as a Trusted Information Creator, the UK-wide quality mark for healthcare information
If the information provided here or through the EPT website has helped you, you can donate towards our support services, volunteer, or fundraise to raise awareness.
Further information is available on our website.
Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk
We provide a call-back support line: 020 7733 2653. We are able to provide support in multiple languages including British Sign Language.
Take a look at our newsletters and subscribe to our mailing list.
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team