Sadly I had to have my left tube removed due to ectopic. This last 10 days have been horrible going from thinking I’m having a normal pregnancy to thinking I was miscarrying to loosing a tube. I know I need to recover. Any success stories with one tube be good to hear. I fell pregnant so quickly with my daughter and this one I did too. I know I can’t expect to be as efficient but also any tips on recovery and getting it all healthy would be good. They said my other tube looked healthy so hoping that’s the case. I hope I can trust what I’ve been told. The paperwork also says as well as the left salpingectomy ‘removal of products of conception’ does that mean they cleared my uterus etc? Feeling sad and anxious right now x
Dear Soph,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,
You are absolutely right that it will take some time to recover from the ordeal of surgery and the emotional impact of losing a baby. Take the time you need and we will be here for you for as long as you need.
Generally, when a person has only one fallopian tube and both ovaries, they are still able to get pregnant from an egg at the opposite ovary as an egg from one ovary can travel down the tube on the other side. The fallopian tubes are not attached to the ovaries and, at the point of ovulation, some very delicate structures called the fimbriae begin to move gently creating a slight vacuum to suck the egg toward the end of the tube it is nearest to (like lots of little fingers waving and drawing the egg towards it). So, if you have only one tube then there is only one set of receptors working and one set of fimbriae creating a vacuum and so the egg is much more likely to find its way to that tube, whichever ovary it is produced from. Conservative estimates suggest that an egg produced on the tubeless side manages to descend the remaining tube around 15 to 20% of the 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.
As a gentle reminder regarding conceiving again, we and many medical professionals advise waiting for two menstrual cycles. 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.
It is normal to feel anxious about the future. We experience a mix of emotions from wanting to try again to being petrified of what may lie ahead. We never forget our experience or babies, but we can learn to accept what happened. It is a slow process that might be weeks or months ahead. In time, we can get to a place where we feel comfortable trying again. When this is, is individual for each person. There is no timeframe for recovery, take each day as it comes. Importantly early scans avail. As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact your local EPU to inform them and book in for an early scan at around six weeks. Remind them of your previous ectopic pregnancy. This self refer route is the best route in our view. Hopefully you will have some comfort to know you are under the radar of medical professionals right away.
Making the decision to begin trying to conceive is an emotional rollercoaster compounded by our sad loss. Again, you are not alone. We here emotional support whenever you need us. There is a specific Preparing for your Next Pregnancy board you can look at too whenever feel ready.
This maybe a little hard to read and if you need further support, do not hesitate to contact us but the ‘removal of products of conception’, on your letter is relating to the pregnancy. So your tube was removed along with the pregnancy that was within the tube. I hope this made sense and if you need further clarification, do not hesitate to contact us.
For now, he kind to yourself and allow time to grieve and heal both physically and emotionally.
We will be here for you for as long as you need,
Sending much love,
Karen x
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Thank you so much Karen. I appreciate the love and support on here. You don’t think these things will happen to you especially after one straightforward pregnancy and after falling pregnant so quickly twice. This time around this egg came from the right and ended up in the other tube so I guess it does happen. Hopefully when I try my egg will know to go to the opposite side if released from the tub less side! Thanks
Sophie xx