Hello all in the last year Iv had a missed miscarriage at 13weeks and medical management and recently a left sided eptopic. Luckily I kept my tubes but had to have 2 methotrexate injections and weeks of blood tests Iv been told to wait 6 month before I conceive again, has anyone tried sooner? Had a successful pregnancy? X
Hi Dxx86,
I’m so sorry that you’ve suffered an ectopic pregnancy and loss. It can leave us with many questions and I’ll do my best to help.
While there is no clear, researched evidence on how long a woman should wait to try to conceive after having treatment for ectopic pregnancy, we and other medical professionals advise you wait for at least three months or two full menstrual cycles (periods) before trying to conceive for both physical and emotional reasons.
Physically, this timeframe is to allow your cycle to return and for there to be a clear Last Menstrual Period (LMP) date to be able to date a new pregnancy from. The LMP date is what is used to decide when to scan a pregnancy; information that is invaluable in ensuring you are not suffering from another ectopic pregnancy.
If you have had either one or two injections of Methotrexate you should wait until your hCG levels have fallen to below 5mIU/mL (your doctor will advise you when this is through blood tests) and then take a folic acid supplement for 12 weeks before you try to conceive.
This is because the Methotrexate may have reduced the level of folate in your body which is needed to ensure a baby develops healthily. The Methotrexate is metabolised quickly but it can affect the quality of your cells, including those of your eggs, and the quality of your blood for up to three months after it has been given. The medicine can also affect the way your liver works and so you need to give your body time to recover properly before a new pregnancy is considered. A shortage of folate could result in a greater chance of a baby having a neural tube defect such as hare lip, cleft palate, or even spina bifida or other neural tube defects.
It’s very normal to have worries about trying to conceive. Many feel that way; I did and still struggle with it. With future pregnancies, it is possible to have early scans to ensure you have the right help in the beginning. It may provide some comfort to know that it is usually possible to conceive successfully after having an ectopic pregnancy, though the time it generally takes varies considerably from couple to couple. Approximately 65 per cent of women are healthily pregnant within 18 months of an ectopic pregnancy and some studies show this rises to around 85 per cent after two years.
We understand how nerve wracking this all can be. We are here for you for emotion support too, and these Boards are a safe space for you. We here for as long as you need.
With good wishes,
Michele
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Further information is available at http://www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
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