Keen to hear other's experiences.

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

Hello everyone,

We’re trying to conceive again, post ectopic in December. I was lucky that I was expectantly managed and I am very grateful for that.

I am, however, still finding the whole process exhausting. We’ve been trying to conceive now for a year and the whole roller coaster of hormones and 2 week wait is really starting to get to me.

It was before my ectopic too but now it feels so much more complicated. I used to be like clockwork and very predictable with pre-period symptoms. Now I don’t feel as though I know what my body is doing.

Last month my cycle was 34 days or similar and around day 17 I started to feel premenstrual, with sore boobs etc and then it disappeared for a week, I was getting negative pregnancy tests but no period.

In the grand scheme of things it shouldn’t be a big deal, stuff like that, I’m just longing for a time when stuff was a bit more obvious.

I’ve started using ovulation sticks this month and they seemed to start to rise, quite late on, but then dropped away again and the app I was using always said my LH was low so I don’t really know.

I feel crazy hormonal all the time at the moment, tearful and exhausted. I keep letting in the hopeful thought that maybe I’m actually pregnant but a test today has put that light out.

I’m just sick of it all! Analysing every sensation etc. I wish I could give up, but I want a baby too much!

Does anyone feel the same? Got any insight into using ovulation tests?

Got any happy pregnancy stories for me to cheer me up?

I’m just keen to hear other experiences of trying to conceive I think - post ectopic or just in general. I don’t know anyone who’s taken a long time and then succeeded so would be good to hear.

(Just for clarity, I’m lucky enough that I’ve been blessed with a wonderful daughter who is now 3. I know it is possible and will likely happen again, I’m just still finding it a slog) x

2

Dear Nervous,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,

I very much understand that strong desire to conceive. I appreciate how frustrating it can be if it isn’t happening as quickly as we would like. It is very common for our cycles to change post ectopic pregnancy, we can feel ovulation pain when we didn’t before and cycles can be irregular. There is no evidence to say why this happens but we hear from lots of people, including myself, just how drastically cycles can change.

Conceiving successfully can take time and can take some couples more than a year or so.

While generally it is possible to conceive after an ectopic pregnancy, the amount of time it takes varies from couple to couple. Factors include age, general health, reproductive health and how often you have sex, among other things. It may be comforting to know that 65% of women are successfully pregnant within 18 months of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and some studies suggest this rises to around 85% after two years

We do not necessarily advocate the use of ovulation test kits and advise instead In having regular sex every 2/3 days throughout the month. Guidance from the UK’s National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence advises that having sex around the time when the woman ovulates causes stress and is not recommended. We here at the EPT suggest having intercourse 2/3 times between days 10-20 of their cycle when trying to conceive. We also have information on our website on trying to conceive here:

https://ectopic.org.uk/physical-recover … eive-again

Importantly, help is available if conceiving naturally has not yet been successful after some time trying - and the EPT advises that women under 35 should seek medical advice following 12 months trying to conceive and those over 35 should seek advice after 6 months.

We hear from lots of women who successfully conceive following ectopic pregnancy. My first pregnancy was ectopic and I was treated with methotrexate. I couldn’t try again until I had taken 12 weeks of folic acid after my hCG levels had returned to normal and it then took another 7-8 months to concieve. This was a successful pregnancy so I hope this gives you some hope.

You are among friends here who understand how frustrating and upsetting it can be. Feel free to lean on us for as long as you need,

Sending much love,

Karen x

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

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Hi! I had my ectopic pregnancy and loss of my right tube in November 2022. I could have written this post! Solidarity sister<3

I have a 2yr old at home who I’m so grateful for, but I long to have a sibling for him. Every cycle since getting my period back in January has been emotional for me. I just keep praying and trying to remember that if I’m meant to have another baby, it will happen. There’s only so much I can do (test ovulation, have lots of sex, reduce stress, etc.). I hope that you and I both get our next babies and they end up nestled in the uterus where they’re meant to be! Lots of love!