Spotting since ectopic & when to expect period

Hello I had laparoscopic surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy as well as my right Fallopian tube 6 weeks ago. A few days after that I started bleeding similar to a period in amount and length. It lasted for 4-5 days. Since then I have been having light brown spotting on wiping every few days for the entire time since but not yet had a proper period. I have pcos and I know periods can take a while after pregnancy loss to kick start but my question is on whether the spotting is normal. It happens every 2-3 days. Thank you.

Dear Makeawish,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,

To answer your question, the first bleed that occurs after treatment for ectopic pregnancy is not classed as a period. It is the body’s response to falling hormone levels because you are sadly no longer pregnant. The body expels the lining of the uterus that had built up in preparation for the pregnancy because it is no longer needed. This process involves vaginal bleeding - it can be clotty or like one of your usual periods and some women have bleeding/spotting for up to six weeks.

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.

Sending much love,

Karen x


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