I’ve been treated with methotrexate, experiencing heavy bleeding, I passed what the medical team described as a decidual cast, has anyone had this before?
How long is this meant to last?
When will I expect to see my next period? I’m terrified my first period will be as bad as this is at the minute.
Dear Georgia,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss.
It is common to experience bleeding and it can be particularly heavy following methotrexate treatment. The sudden drop in hormones can cause the pregnancy tissue inside the uterus to be shed in layers and the material that is passed can be grey, pink or white as well as appear like a clot or dark or frank red blood. The bleeding can last anywhere up to 6 weeks.
Provided you are not soaking a pad in less than an hour or the abdominal pain is so severe you can’t manage it with over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol, you should try not to worry. If the amount of bleeding worries you or you have any concerns, you should seek medical advice and a reassessment.
According to a study for women who had methotrexate treatment for an ectopic pregnancy in a Fallopian tube, periods generally return to normal after an average of 24 days (range of 24–38 days) from the pregnancy ending.
The first period may be more painful or less so than usual, heavier or lighter, and last for longer or shorter than usual – there really is no set pattern. Again,you should be able to manage the discomfort with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications and should not be soaking a pad in less than an hour. If this is not the case, you should seek medical advice.
We have more information on physical recovery from ectopic pregnancy on our website here which you may find helpful
https://ectopic.org.uk/physical-recovery
Sending much love and gentle hugs,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
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