Hi Berryt04,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss. The experience can be surprising to many of us and leave us looking for answers and reassurances.
In the UK, it is not common to test following one ectopic pregnancy unless the doctors are concerned at the time. The reason why further testing is not routinely offered is that it has limitations. 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 spasms, but is actually working normally. The test cannot determine what the internal villi of the Fallopian tube look like, which are the mechanism for moving the egg through the tube into the uterus.
Having said this, others have expressed that this test has brought some comfort to them. However, I’d encourage you to speak to your Drs about it and just know the limitations of certainty associated with the test.
Following my ectopics, I looked for ways to provide clarity about why they happened and how to prevent them from happening. The difficult part of recovery is that these reassurances don’t really exist because there is nothing we did to cause, nor anything to prevent ectopic pregnancies from occurring. However, the odds are also on our side that in future pregnancies there is a 90% of correct placement.
I know this can be difficult and want you to know that we are here anytime you need and for as long as you need.
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
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