Hi all. I’m new here. Found out last Wednesday that I was having an eptopic pregnancy at 5 weeks. Had spotting and slight cramps when I went to the docs the Friday before they said it was a uti. Then on monday I went bk to docs they said infection was gone and confirmed pregnancy. Then that evening I had pain like I’ve never felt before. I couldn’t stand, breath or see. Went to the loo and there was blood. Went to a&e they faffed about and never mentioned anything about my pregnancy or that it could be an mc or ep. Sentry me hone without a scan and with antibiotics. Then I got a call from the early pregnancy unit on Wednesday to go see them that day. They gave me a scan and said that it was eptopic. I was distraught that this was happening. They sent me to another hospital as an emergency but when I got there they put the surgery off day after day until last Friday I had my left tube removed. The surgeon showed me images of my tube and what had happened. It was such a mess. He said if I had been scanned on the Monday they could have saved my tube. So worried now as my fertility has been affected. They said we have to wait 2 cycles until we can try again. Thanks so much for listening xxx
Dear Lookingforanswers,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss and the difficult time you are going through.
I am afraid as we are a charity we are not able to give advice on the service women have received.
If you have questions about your treatment however such as delays in decisions or timings of scans, I would advise contacting your PALS (Patient Advice Liaison Service) within your local hospital. They are an impartial service and will help you gain answers to your questions.
When we experience ectopic pregnancy we are suddenly faced with a life threatening emergency and it’s treatment, reduction in fertility, concerns about the future and the loss of our babies. Dealing with any one of these is difficult, putting them together is immense and your feelings are completely normal.
We and many medical professionals advise waiting at least two menstrual cycles before trying to conceive again - and this is the same with expectant management treatment, too (ie allowing time for the body to resolve the pregnancy without medical or surgical treatment).
Please note that the first bleed after an ectopic pregnancy is not classed as a period - it is the body’s response to falling hormone levels as you are sadly no longer pregnant and shedding of the uterine lining that had build up which involves bleeding.
This “wait” is to allow your cycles to resume and have a last menstrual period date from which to date a new pregnancy - important information for checking for ectopic pregnancy in the future. It also allows time for your emotions to surface and be worked through after your ordeal.
I hope you don’t mind me adding some general advice but 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.
Sending much love,
Karen x
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering?
Further information is available at www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
Our helpline is 020 7733 2653 (available Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm).
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.
Thank you. My aunt is a lawyer and she advised the same. Can I ask why do I have to wait 2 cycles before trying again. Is there a reason or is it just a guideline. I really don’t want to wait.
Dear Lookingforanswers,
To answer your question, 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.
The first proper period you have after an ectopic pregnancy is likely to be heavier than usual and the second more like your usual period. A normal period would suggest you are hormonally ready to be able to try to conceive. Having two periods can also give an idea of menstrual cycle length, which may be different for a few months after your ectopic before settling back into its usual rhythm.
This wait allows the internal inflammation and bruising from the ectopic and any associated treatment to heal.
In addition to the physical aspects of ectopic pregnancy, many women also feel an intense emotional impact. Taking time before trying to conceive again enables the necessary process of grief to surface and be worked through. The emotional recovery that is often needed can be significant and many underestimate this aspect. Some studies suggest that women who conceive immediately after treatment for ectopic pregnancy are more at risk of suffering a subsequent ectopic and, as painful as it is to think about, the incidence of miscarriage (which is not linked to ectopic pregnancy) is 1 in 5 pregnancies, so taking that extra bit of time enables you some emotional recovery to feel strong enough to face whatever is coming next should there be further bad news.
I hope this helps, Sending much love,
Karen x
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering?
Further information is available at www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
Our helpline is 020 7733 2653 (available Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm).
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.