Hello, I had my ectopic pregnancy as well as my left fillopian tube surgically removed this week. I have a range of emotions as well as pain from the surgery. I have been pointed in the direction of this website for support, I don’t know what to expect next, I haven’t bled yet, should I expect to bleed immediately? Or do I wait for my next period?
Thanks for reading.
Hi, my period came 6 weeks later. I actually had what could be assumed as ovulation before hand…it was thick white discharge.
I had my emergency surgery early June so just finding my feelings in regards to what happened. Just figuring out I need to have counselling or peer support as I feel others want to forget about it or get on with it.
I hope you are OK. Even if you still feel OK now, at least you know this website exists if you need it
Thank you. I only had my surgery yesterday so feeling a bit numb to it all still. I feel upset, I don’t think others see it as a big deal. It’s a tough one. I asked the Dr if I will bleed straight after and he said it varies, I just expected to bleed because of the hormones stopping but I just don’t know. Thank you for your reply. Take care xx
Dear faeaiyana,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
Experiencing an ectopic pregnancy is a huge ordeal and you are in the early stages of recovery. Your body needs time to heal from your surgery which is in itself a gruelling task. You have also had to process the loss of your baby and been through an immense rollercoaster of emotions - all of this will take time to come to terms with.
You should take it very easily for about six weeks after surgery. Your body will be using its energies to heal internally. It is normal to feel physically and emotionally exhausted during this time and please do be kind to yourself. Recovery can take time and some days will be better than others, one day you maybe ok and the next you maybe in discomfort or more emotional. This is perfectly usual and the healing process will go back and forth in this way for however long you need. It is important to listen to your body’s signals and pain and feeling tired are your body’s signs to tell you to rest. We suggest keeping a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and resting. Once your wounds have healed, very gentle exercise such as a short walk can help, but please do take this slowly.
It is common to bleed after ectopic pregnancy and the bleeding is in response to falling hCG levels as you are sadly no longer pregnant as it not classed as a period. The bleeding can be clotty or like one of your usual periods and some women have bleeding/spotting for up to six weeks.
With this first bleed, we would recommend using sanitary pads and this is because you would still be healing internally. It is important to avoid tampons until you have healed internally because they could introduce bacteria and the possibility of infection. Also, 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. You can of course use tampons for your next normal menstrual period if you choose to do so.
Your periods can take a while to re-establish - they can re-start anything between two and ten weeks after surgery and most women find that their period arrives sometime around week six or seven after surgery.
The first period may be more painful or less so than usual, heavier or lighter, last for longer or shorter than usual – there really is no set pattern. You should be able to manage the discomfort with over-the-counter pain relief and should not be soaking a pad in less than an hour. If this is not the case, you should seek medical attention.
Above all be kind to yourself and allow time to grieve, to heal both physically and emotionally.
We will be here for you for as long as you need,
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
Ectopic pregnancy patient information suite: Highly Commended in the 2019 BMA Patient Information Awards
During the coronavirus outbreak, The EPT team is still working hard to provide crucial information and support to women and families experiencing ectopic pregnancy as quickly and efficiently as we can.
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering or fundraising?
Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk
Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk
We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653
Take a look at our newsletters and subscribe to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/986bdd6091ee/ectopic-matters
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team