Ectopic Pregnancy

[Rachel&Emma]

I had an ectopic pregnancy. I had one of my fallopian tubes removed. I was just wondering if anyone can answer some of my questions:
How long from the operation was it before AF came back?
Was it heavy?
Was is regular?
How long did it take before AF became 'normal' again?
How long should I wait before TTC?
How difficult will it be to conceive?
Thanks a million for any replies. I'm sure I have thousands of other questions but I can't think of them right now.

[MilkOnTap]

Hi there - first of all, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. No loss, either ectopic or miscarriage is easy to deal with...

I've had two ectopic pregnancies, both in my left tube. The first time the tube was removed, however there was still a teensy tiny bit attached to my uterus still. The second time, the egg travelled down my healthy right tube, across my uterus, and implanted in that small piece of tube that still remained and it ruptured. I understand the pain, both physical and mental...

Anyway - to your questions!

How long from the operation was it before AF came back?
The first time it took about 6 weeks before AF came back. The second time was 4 weeks. My surgeon said to expect it to be between 4-8 weeks.

Was it heavy?
My first AF wasn't heavy, it was quite normal. But also a lot more painful than before the ectopics. Since the operations, I've had cramps every 2 weeks. 1 week for AF, and then 2 weeks later for ovulation. Yep, I can feel when I'm ovulating now which is interesting...

Was is regular?
My AF was never regular without the pill or Vitex (a natural herbal remedy that regulates your menstrual cycle). I used vitex to regulate my cycle so I would have regular 28 day cycles, instead of 40 day plus cycles.

How long did it take before AF became 'normal' again?
AF has never been the same. Always painful cramps but with a regular flow that lasts about 3-4 days. When I'm on vitex though, the cramps are not nearly half as bad.

How long should I wait before TTC?
My dr recommended I wait 3 months, but we began about 2 months later. So long as you feel up to it physically and emotionally then there is no real reason to wait the whole 3 months. It was 3 months between both of my ectopics (June 05 & Sept 05)

How difficult will it be to conceive?
Probably no more difficult than it was before. Yes, you are now down a tube, but your other tube will apparantly do the work of two. One of my surgeons told me that my right tube would now move from left ovary to right ovary every month. This sounded weird, but your fallopian tube isn't actually attached to your ovary, it just has long fingerlike things that reach out for the eggies - so who knows - maybe this is what happened.

My husband was away for 6 months, and we had about another 3 months between now and last Sept that we couldn't time TTCing very well - but now we are pregnant again and its in the right place! At first it was scary when I saw the two lines on that pee stick, had to race around having blood tests every 2nd day and an ultrasound at 5wks, but once everything was confirmed it was the most incredible relief.

Dont give up yet! You will still be a mother-again! :hugs:

[mumsluv]

Hi Rachel & Emma

I am also sorry to hear about your loss. its a hard road to travel and everyone deals with their loss in their own way. I am still coming to terms with it after all this time. however, there are other extenuating circumstances that I won't go into now...

I had an ectopic pregnancy at the beginning of this year, at 6w4d. I lost my right tube.

It took about 6 weeks for AF to come back for me and was quite heavy the first time round. After that, my cycles went back to 'normal' length, between 27 and 30 days long. Since the ectopic, like PL, i have also expereinced ovulation cramps that I didn;t before (maybe I'm just more conscious f every little niggle). Af has become shorter since the ectopic, heavy for around 3-4 days and then weird dark brown spotting for up to 5 days intermittently. I have no idea why this is. Dr said cycles can just change...

I was told to wait for 2 cycles before attempting to ttc again. I have heard various versions of how difficult it will be to conceive again...a mdwife friend said it shouldn't make any difference and that you don't lways alernate left/right/left from ach ovary each month when you ovulate. My dr told me that, according to the statisitcs, people who have had 1 tube removed have 56% chance of falling pg in the first 12 months after the ectopic compared to 94% of falling pg for 'normal' couples.

I am actually really encouraged by PL"s comment that the remaining tube can 'move' and do the work of both. Sounds good to me. the human body is amazing.

The dr told me that, if and when I fell pg again, that I would need to get an u's at 6 weeks to make sure it had implanted in the right place as once you've had one ectpic, you have an increased chance of having another one (sorry to say).

Hope this helps. Again, I'm so sorry to hear about your angel baby and wish you all the best for the road ahead.

Mumluv :hugs: :hugs: