Post follow up frustrations

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

Evening all. I had my follow up today after EP#2. The first was managed conservatively and the second with surgery- both right sided. After surgery they told me that they couldn’t find any blockage but it was likely the first was spontaneous and caused damage making the second inevitable. Left tube looks healthy and no reason why I can’t conceive/carry successfully on that side. Today they pretty much said the same thing. Histology didn’t reveal anything further, only that it was confirmed ectopic. The doctor answered some questions I had about surgery and reiterated that there was no reason to suspect it will happen again. Which sounds great but to my mind, if I can have a spontaneous ectopic with no explanation (I don’t have any of the known risk factors) then what is to stop a second one happening?

The doctor said that there are no guarantees and that even if we opted for IVF, the egg could migrate. I guess I was asking the impossible- I wanted a rational explanation to justify my EP or a guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again. And so now I find myself on this merry-go-round of not wanting to TTC without knowing it will be non-ectopic but that I will never know this without TTC/the only way to find out is to get pregnant. Has anyone else found themselves in this potion?

TIA and for all the support I’ve had over the past 12 months.

2

Hi, I am sorry you are experiencing this. I am in a similar situation. I’ve only had two pregnancies, both ectopic with in-place IUDs and no other risk factors. My first was treated surgically. They did not remove the tube since everything “looked healthy”. My second was treated with methotrexate but was an unknown location so I am unsure if it was the same tube. I was told the same thing, that the only way to know if I could get pregnant on my own was to try. That has given me a lot of anxiety. I am preparing to TTC now. My doctor suggested an HSG test before TTC to “flush out” my tubes. That is scheduled for April, so we will see what happens. I know I can’t totally prevent another one, but it makes me feel a bit better knowing that I’m doing something that might give me a better chance. I hope that is helpful, if only just to know that I’m right there with you. Good luck with whatever you decide to do next.

3

Thank you Dlm08, I appreciate your reply. It is nice to hear I am not alone but I am sorry to hear of your losses and experience also. I wish you lots of luck with your TTC journey.