TTC After HSG Test & Ectopic Pregnancy

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

Hi everyone,

In June 2020, I was rushed to the ER for chronic pain and was later told I was having an Ectopic Pregnancy (I was 8 weeks pregnant). Due to internal bleeding, I had to have my (L) Fallopian tube removed. During my surgery, I was told that my ovaries, uterus and (R) Fallopian looked great. My OB recommended an HSG test to make sure my (R) tube was open to prevent the risk of having another Ectopic.

On Monday, I had the HSG test and was told that my tube was open but there was a little bit of scar tissue below the tube. My OB recommended that I follow up with an infertility specialist, which I thought was a little harsh considering my husband and I just start trying to have a baby in April, conceived but it ended as an Ectopic… and my tube is in fact open. We are both 29 and healthy.

I have been reading some posts about how the majority of women are not referred for an HSG test following their Ectopic and are recommended to just wait two cycles before trying again. I would really appreciate it if someone could shed some light on their experience or provide any information as I’m really having a difficult time processing everything. If I had never had the test, I wouldn’t know about the tiny bit of scar tissue and we would be trying to conceive naturally. Thank you in advance

looking to hear other people’s opinions on this and keep asking myself, if I had never had this test done in the first place… I wouldn’t have known about the little scar tissue below my tube and we would be trying to conceive naturally anyways.

2

Dear moranc207,

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

I did not have surgery but was treated with methotrexate and like most women in the UK, not offered any follow-up testing. I went on to have two successful pregnancies.

Of course, I am not medically trained and do not have access to your medical notes, but you are right in that standard advice in the UK is to wait for two menstrual cycles before trying to conceive. It is important to allow time for your body to recover and emotions to surface and be worked through. This is so that you have some comfort that your body is returning to its natural rhythm and you have a last menstrual period date from which to date a new pregnancy - key information in checking you are not suffering from an ectopic pregnancy in the future. The first bleed soon after surgery for ectopic pregnancy is not classed as a period as it is the body’s response to falling hormone levels.

The chances of a further ectopic after a first in UK is 10%. So that’s 90% chance of the embryo being in right place next time.

While generally it is possible to conceive after an ectopic pregnancy, the amount of time it takes varies from couple to couple. Factors include age, general health, reproductive health and how often you have sex, among other things. It may be comforting to know that 65% of women are successfully pregnant within 18 months of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and some studies suggest this rises to around 85% after two years.

I would advise discussing options with your medical team. One option of course, is to wait and try naturally.

Sending much love,

Karen x

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