TTC after an ectopic pregnancy

[bandanna]

Hi, has anyone managed to conceive after an ectopic pregnancy? We have a 5 year old and have at long last decided to try again after an ectopic pregnancy 3 years ago.
Any hot tips?

[jellies]

No hot tips, I had 2 miscarriages and one EP before the arrival of 3 sons, relax enjoy the trying it takes a bit longer.. get a Early Pregnancy Scan as soon as you know you are preg.. Good luck!

[poshwellies]

Same as jellies,I had several miscarriages and a ectopic,luckily I didn't lose my tube.I did use a ovulation kit,to see if we could hit my right time better-which we did,got a happy healthy 5 yr old now!

Have fun trying !

[bandanna]

Thanks and we will! Bit scared about it not happening or all going horribly wrong. I did lose a tube, does that mean my chances are down to every other cycle do you know?

[jellies]

Not necessarily it doesnt work one side and the the other.. Ovulation kit is a good idea just remember you still ovulate from the side where the tube is lost so don't use it as an absolute... It will happen! you have already proved you can get pregnant..
You have to air on the positive (not easy to do I know)there is only a small chance this could happen again, but you'll be knocking on the EPU clinic door the morning you get your blue line saying right where is it??? And heaven forbid the worst you wont loose the other tube! You will be fine! I will look out the web address the clinic gave me for TTC after EP.. it was really useful!

[bandanna]

Thanks for your support and advice. Much appreciated

[curlydolly]

Hi Bandanna. Just reading this really takes me back and I remember having very similar feelings. I had an ectopic 7 years ago and lost a tube only to have another one 6 months later but this time the embryo got stuck in the scar tissue of the previous op. I was thankful that I did not lose the second tube but I could not believe this had happened (even the doctors couldn't believe it!) I thought I would never have children but I just wanted to tell you that I now have 2 (aged 5.5 and 2.5) and having just one tube does not seem to have made a huge amount of difference. In fact I remember one of the many professionals I saw telling me that your body will adjust and you have equal chance of conceiving every month, so try not to worry about it too much - easier said than done I know. What happened to me was very very unusual but as jellies said you just need to make sure you get a scan as soon as you get a blue line..Actually in my own experience a blue line was a signal that it wasn't an ectopic because I had negative tests with both my ectopics. However that might not be the case with everyone. Good luck and I really hope you manage to conceive 'properly' soon!

[barrelrider]

Hello bandanna, I'm in a similar situation to you - I have a 2 year old who I conceived at first attempt, literally.. then an ectopic a year ago. I lost the tube, and have started trying again recently (with no success after 4 months). I am 36 so a little stressed about my chances and the time thing, but I guess all we can do is enjoy trying and hope for the best!
Good luck to you, let us know how you get on.

[Bekkie32]

yes there is hope, listen to my story!!

I married in 2000 and we were TTC for 7 years. I always thought something was wrong when nothing happened. My husband had his sperm checked ..ok. That left possible problems with me. In Feb 2005, I fell pregnant, did not have a period for almost 55 days and was convinced I was pregnant. We were about to take a pregnancy test, when suddenly I had sharp pains and was rushed to hospital, RESULT: a fatal ectopic, left tube had burst and emergency life-saving surgery. Then a year later still no joy. We tried IVF in October 2006, which failed and we lost 1,500 pounds. I was mega depressed for weeks - negative result and bill arrived at the same time. The IVF follow-up discussion resulted in me being booked-in for an operation on 21st december 2006 (laproscopy and tube dye test ), to check out my womb and remaining tube. Before the operation my husband and I flew out to New Zealand for a holiday and we were due to return the day before the operation. Whilst we were in new zealand I did not get my December period, but just put it down to the stress of the failed IVF. A few days before we were due to fly back home I wrote an email to my doctor from an internet cafe, explaining that I had better wait until I have had my period and that it would be best to postpone the operation (as I thought that if I got my period the day before the operation, i would not be able to contact the doctor because I would be on the plane home - hence the email to him before we left ). I still did not think pregnant. Anyway, we arrived back home and on the operation day, still no period. Then when I missed Januarys period - a home pregnancy test revealed my pregnancy. It is also fate - had I not sent an email to the doctor and just followed his advice and had the operation, then the baby would not be here today. She is beautiful. There is hope.

Some advice: Maybe pop into a fertility clinic. You do not necessarily have to IVF, as they can also monitor your cycle and check to see which ovary ovulates and tell you when it would be best to try to conceive. If the ovary with the functioning tube is lazy (as in my case ) they can give you hormone treatment to stimulate - which they also did to me. I think, that after those hormones and the ones from IVF my lazy ovary was jump started into action and I now have a beautiful baby girl. Chin up, I have every faith you can conceive, even if with a small amount of help is needed along the way.

[Bekkie32]

oh..and yes, as my left tube had completely burst, it was of course removed, so the pregnancy was conceived with only one tube. She was born Aug 2007