Hi ladies,
I’m feeling very confused at the moment. I had an ectopic pregnancy and received methotrexate on July 26th. We caught this pretty early and my HCG was only at 167 units (no doctors could see a sac on the ultrasound). I was given methotrexate and a week later, my HCG went down to 80 and I was thankful that I seemed to be responding to it well. A week later it went down yet again to 20 and most recently on Friday, August 16, it was only 3 units.
During this time I was spotting and bleeding (red blood) for 1-2 days every 7 days or so. Now, for 3 days right before my HCG results came back as <5, I was neither bleeding nor spotting and I had hoped that this nightmare was over.
However, waking up yesterday (18/08), I started bleeding and cramping like a period. All the information online suggests that periods typically come 4-6 weeks after methotrexate, so why am I bleeding now? Is it residual tissue from the ectopic pregnancy? I had assumed that once my HCG reached negative levels I would no longer be bleeding.
Needless to say, I’m quite worried right now and will see a doctor today regardless, but I’d like to know if anyone has ever experienced anything like this? If this is a normal process of the methotrexate working, when will I stop bleeding - if ever? When will my body return to normal?
Thank you for any responses.
Dear confus3d,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,
It is not unusual for women to bleed after treatment for ectopic pregnancy. This will be your bleed after treatment and is a response to falling hormone levels and involves shedding of the uterine lining and is not classed as a period. The length of the bleeding can vary from woman to woman and some women do report spotting and bleeding for up to around six weeks after an ectopic pregnancy.
It is good that you have asked medical advice with concerns and hopefully you will have some reassurance. We advise that it is a good idea to keep a close eye on your bleeding and using sanitary pads helps judge this. If you are soaking more than a pad in an hour, you should get medical attention.
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
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