Should I visit my doctor?

[ilikebread]

Hi all,

First of all I’m sorry if I offend anyone here. I know many of you are in a much worst position and so I really hope I don’t cause any offence by asking this question 💐

I had an ectopic pregnancy a year and 3 months ago and lost my left tube - all very traumatic which I’m sure you call relate to!

After my surgery The doctor said I was healthy everywhere else so could expect to get pregnant without much issue. Here’s where the problem is, we’ve now been trying for over a year and nothing has happened. Been taking all the vitamins and using OPKs, doing yoga, lost weight etc.

Question is do you think I should visit my GP and ask for tests or do you think they will turn me away because I’ve been pregnant before?

Any experience from you guys would be much appreciated.

Thank you xxx

[Amirite]

No experience of ectopic pregnancies (so sorry this happened to you) but when we tried for a year without anything happening we started the test process with our gp. Do take your age into consideration too, I know it’s not nice to say but it could take another few years and time passes quickly.

They found nothing wrong with either of us and after another 3 years of trying finally conceived after round 2 of ivf... best of luck with the process.

[ilikebread]

Thank you so much for your reply, I’m sorry you had to go through all of that.

I suppose I’m just unsure if they will help because I did manage to get pregnant. I don’t want to go and waste anyone’s time if I’m supposed to try for longer - I’m not sure what the guidelines are for my situation xxx

[physicskate]

The guidelines are generally trying unsuccessfully for a year - which you have now been doing. They will test people who already have children if ttc for th prescribed time.

[ilikebread]

physicskate thankyou for your reply. I think I wasn’t sure because of woman having to wait for 3 miscarriages before they get seen - wasn’t sure if it would be the same for my situation x

[physicskate]

No. Those are for different tests for recurrent miscarriage. The tests are mostly quite different from infertility tests.

[ilikebread]

Thanks Kate for your swift response! I’ll head to the doctor xx

[OverinaFlash]

Hi OP. I had an ectopic pregnancy and right tube removed 2 years ago.

We just had our first FC appointment after all our tests came back normal, and have been referred for IVF.

The doctor told us that technically we are unexplained, as my remaining tube appeared healthy during my surgery and my husband and my other results are fine, but that she suspects the other tube may be responsible for why we haven't conceived again.

I was told that if I wasn't happy to proceed to IVF yet they could arrange a laparoscopy to check the patency of the other tube, including the health of the cilia in the tube, but that they wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless we were set upon trying naturally, or if our NHS IVF is unsuccessful and we want more info before paying for private treatment.

I've decided I'd prefer not to have another surgery at this stage so we are planning to have IVF.

Definitely worth seeing a doctor and discussing everything with them. If you see a GP who you feel is fobbing you off, don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. The advice might be the same from both, but it is extremely helpful and morale-boosting to find a doctor who is sensitive to the impact of what you've been/are going through.

[ilikebread]

OverinaFlash gosh thank you so much for your reply and I am sorry for everything you have gone through.

I will take your advise and see the doctor.

Can I ask, when the doctor said she suspect that your other tube may be cause if the issue - do you mean your tubeless side? Did she explain what the issue might be exactly?

Sorry for the questions xx

[OverinaFlash]

Sorry, no she meant the remaining tube. It appeared healthy during my surgery, and I have no sign of previous infections, scarring etc. But she said that it could be blocked or the cilia (little hairs that waft the egg down the tube, sorry if you know that already) could be damaged, and the only way to know that is to put dye through them. She said she would only be prepared to do that during a laporoscopy as the procedure is more controlled than a normal HSG or HyCoSy, and as I only have one remaining tube, she doesn't want to take any risks.

No apologies, it's a crappy thing to have to deal with and it's nice to find someone in a similar position, so ask away!

[ilikebread]

@OverinaFlash thank you so much for your reply. Im wondering wether my other tube is buggered too!

I’ve been reading a lot about serrapeptase for clearing Fallopian tubes, do you know anything about this?

[OverinaFlash]

@ilikebread no I hadn't heard of it. I googled and I think if it was a well-documented solution to clearing blocked fallopian tubes, it would be being used, somewhere in the world as an option, as it would be cheaper and less invasive than surgical options.

It's not something I would be willing to try personally, without a medical recommendation.