TTC

Preparing For Your Next Pregnancy
1

I had an ectopic at the end of July 2017 and required surgery to remove my left tube.

My husband and I have not TTC yet as we went away to the Caribbean and were told we would have to wait 6 months due to the risk of the zika virus.

We are starting TTC now as 6 months has passed.

I don’t want to put too much stress on myself as I know this will probably hinder things. I keep telling myself not to think about it or focus on it and if it happens it happens but it’s so hard when all you want is a baby.

How do you stop constantly thinking about getting pregnant or symptom spotting.

The first time I caught within 2 weeks of coming off my pill and it was this time last year and now all I want is to be pregnant.

Thanks

Amy

2

Dear Amy,

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

I fully understand that strong desire to conceive again and trying to conceive again can be a challenging time for couples especially after experiencing loss.

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.

I wish I could give more precise information, but as I do not have access to your and your partner’s medical records, it is difficult for me to provide specific details. Generally, we and many healthcare professionals advise keeping a healthy balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and abstaining from alcohol and smoking.

Importantly, help is available if conceiving naturally has not yet been successful after some time trying - and the EPT advises that women under 35 should seek medical advice following 12 months trying to conceive and those over 35 should seek advice after 6 months.

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. 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.

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.

3

Extremely sorry to hear about your ectopic pregnancy. As you are TTC, I wish you nothing but the best of success and also that everything goes smoothly this time. I would also advise that you start taking pre-natal vitamins to aid this process of conception. Use the below link for other pregnancy tips as you TTC:

https://menstrual-cycle-calculator.com/ … ant-guide/

4

I understand what you are going through because I’m in the same boat. I had two ectopics and my right tube removed recently. Husband and I just started TTC and I’m nervous! Waiting until I could take a test on July 8 I know the chances are kind of small of me conceiving after the first try especially when I had the procedure to remove my right tube a little over a week ago. I am constantly analyzing every twitch sign and thinking any one of them could be early signs of pregnancy! Unfortunately I do this every single month and I just need to relax and pray things will work out! Good luck to you and keep me posted on how things are going!