TTC after ectopic

[Lukbaby87]

Hi ladies!
My hubby and I were so excited to find out we were pregnant. That excitement only lasted about an hour before I started bleeding. The next day I had horrible left sided pain with pain into my left leg. Went to the ER- they saw a sac in the uterus so stated ectopic was probably not the cause and to go home and rest. Needless to say my HCG levels were creeping around the 1450-1600 mark for the next few days and the doctor stated I should get methotrexate shot because it is ectopic. It's been a week and I half post shot, and I'm feeling much better physically. The emotional part will be a process but I'm hoping to fell ebtter eventually. I know there have been some threads on here for ladies TTC after ectopic but they are years old!
I'd love to start a new thread with advice, help, and of course hopefully some BFP soon!
When did you ladies have ectopics?
When are you cleared to TTC again?
Andddd any positive outcomes? I'd love to hear all!
Thanks,
Renee

 

[loeylo]

I had an ectopic 6 months before I got my bfp with my daughter. I also had methotrexate.

My daughter was conceived on month 5, they strongly recommend waiting 6 months before ttc but the bare minimum is 4 months. This is because methotrexate strips your body of folate so you are at a higher risk of birth defects.

We didn't try but we got lazy with prevention at 4 months so it took not even 2 months of not even trying for us to fall pregnant again. She is perfectly fine.

You will get a really early scan next time you are pregnant as you are at a higher risk of another ectopic on your damaged tube. I believe it's 1/10 compared to background risk of 1/100.

I ovulated from the side with the damaged tube when I got pregnant with my daughter so I'm glad that I didn't have the surgery. My hcg was higher than yours (3300) so they tried to force surgery. That in mind, you can still fall pregnant from an ovary where there is no tube as the other one can reach round.

They will probably do blood tests twice per week until your hormones fall below 5. Mine hovered at 6 for ages!

 

[Lukbaby87]

Thank you for the reply! That is crazy how long it takes to go completely to 0! I'm glad you are doing much better now and have a beautiful daughter!
I feel like it will be so stressful to become pregnant again with all the worries.

 

[DazedConfused]

Hi all. I had an ectopic 2 weeks ago. Began spotting at 5w4d. Went in for a scan and a small mass was found in my left tube. Early and non vascular.

I went straight to emergency gynae and was offered methodextrate, I declined as my HCG was less than 1000. I chose to go home and get serial HCG and hope my body would do it naturally. Bleeding stopped about a week ago now and my HCG a few days after was 45 or so. I had my hopefully final bloods on Friday, haven't heard and update so I assume I'm back to zero.
My body is showing signs of ovulation coming up, as I didn't have methodextrate we'll start trying this month

 

[Septbaby14]

Hi

I'm sorry I don't have good news. I had an ectopic last year October. Was so happy to finally get pregnant again. This weekend I started having some bleeding. Went and did blood tests and my hcg is 23.1 at 5 weeks. Chances are that it wont be viable. I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday to do an ultrasound but I'm pretty sure I know where this is headed. After my ectopic I was so scared to get pregnant again. But honestly the first time hurt the most. I guess I was more cautious this time and kinda expected the worse. Its still hurting but I'm gonna try again.

I hope all works out for you. Really sucks having to go through this. At least we can talk about it

 

[Lukbaby87]

dazed- I'm so glad you didn't have to take methotrexate, it really is a crappy drug. It's also great that you can start so soon!!!! I wish you luck! Keep us updated

Septbaby- I'm so so sorry please keep us updated on what the doctor says and what happens next. I'm truly hoping the best for you. Was your last ectopic your first time TTC?

 

[Berri]

I had an ectopic late last year, treated with MTX on 1 Nov and finally my bloods got down to 0 mid-December - it felt like an eternity and made me incredibly anxious.

I was advised not to conceive 3mth from MTX, got pregnant late Feb (my 4th month post MTX). I had early scans and to date, everything is looking good (24wks).

Once your HCG drops to 0 talk to your OB first but I'd suggest you get straight back on your prenatal vitamins to start rebuilding on your folate/folic acid as MTX strips you of it and this is the potential issue if you intend to TTC again soon.

 

[Sweetkat]

I think after methotrexate you have to wait at least 3 months before ttc again, but i could be wrong.

Good luck with TTC

 

[Lukbaby87]

Yes I keep hearing 3 months is the recommended waiting period. My doctor recommended 6 months to be "safe safe".

 

[DazedConfused]

Oh luk that's ages! Are your HCG levels reducing okay? 6 months seems like a crazy long time when other doctors recommend 3. Nothing wrong with a second opinion!

I'm two weeks post discovery now. Just got word that my HCG was 1 on Friday so I guess I'm good to go soon.

We're also dealing with male factor (which we've managed to improve to almost normal levels naturally! Yay!) So I'm hoping it won't take too long.

 

[loeylo]

The official NHS advice is 6 months, it's because you have NO folate in your body after methotrexate and they want to make sure you have long enough to build your levels back up - as soon as your hcg reaches 0 out can start taking folic acid.

At 3 months, you would probably be okay, but is it really a risk worth taking? Neural tube defects aren't anything to mess with, imo.

 

[Lukbaby87]

Dazed- I know!!!!! I wanted to wait four months anyways before she recommended 6 months, which I think I'm going to do! Yes my levels were 1500 and dropped to 695 day 4 then 409 day 7! Going in tomrorow for blood so I'm hoping it continues to drop more!
Your levels dropped so quickly! That's great!

 

[Lukbaby87]

Loeylo- totally agree! I'm okay with waiting a little longer for ease of mind as well

 

[DazedConfused]

Fair enough!
Yes I was shocked that it was down to almost 0 10 days after spotting. I had full on bleeding Fri-Sunday the week before. I thought it'd take way longer without mtx but hey ho. It's been really tough trying to find any other experiences of expectant management though so I was pretty in the dark about it all.

100 bag of opks arrived today 😂 no idea when I could ovulate. I'm technically cd 12 right now but more like CD 5 if going from HCG zero day.
Hope your HCG is back to normal soon !

 

[Lukbaby87]

Hahaha I have to order those soon! Did you get yours from amazon?

 

[DazedConfused]

Yes I did and they arrived super quick!

Will you be charting in the next few months to prep for ttc?

 

[Lukbaby87]

Yes! I started temping the last few days to see how things are going. My levels came back at 67 yesterday so I'm hoping to be at zero soon! I started at 1500 two weeks ago. I actually just ordered the pack of opk and pregnancy tests off amazon! So they will be here tomorrow!
I have never tempting before so I figure might as well get used to it! It's so hard to remember to do it every morning !
Have you tempted and tracked ovulation before?

 

[DazedConfused]

Yep I've temped before. Was handy when going in for fertility check ups!
I got a positive opk today so fingers crossed I O soon! I'm on CD 19 if going by the first day I bled during the ectopic miscarriage but cd 14 if going by HCG 0 day which is pretty amazing!

 

[DazedConfused]

How is everyone doing? I by some miracle managed to ov 19 days after the bleeding started and about 14 days after hcg zero. U thought it'd take a bit longer tbh.
My chart is looking good too!

I hope everyone else is recovering well and getting back to normal x

 

[Lukbaby87]

Hi!!!! Everything has been definitely going better ! I felt like oluvating right around the time my hcg levels were around 15 or so. I had pains again on my left side too! Which I hear is common when you ovulate after ectopic! I then started bleeding the Sunday of Labor Day! (Not sure if that was my real period or not? But it sure felt like it) I received MTX shot august 9 and went to HCG levels of 1 on sept 6!
I have be n tempting and apparently I ovulated again a week ago... which seems pretty early! So I think I may jsut be getting used to tempting etc.
how are you dazed?? How was your two week wait?