Info on methotrexate given for ectopic pregnancy?

[Naomi2023]

Hey, so I was given methotrexate in March to end my ectopic pregnancy and am looking for abit of info on the 3 month wait of ttc after methotrexate.

They is conflicting advice on how long you should wait to ttc after having methotrexate and I'm unsure why different medical professionals offer different advice on how long to wait.

I know methotrexate depletes folic acid which is important for development of a pregnancy but isit the methotrexate itself that is a risk to a new pregnancy or having low folate levels because of it that causes the risk?
So if you have high enough folate levels for a pregnancy is they no longer a risk or would the methotrexate still pose a risk itself to a pregnancy before the "advised" time of ttc?

I know it can also effect blood, liver e.c.t and i was told to wait 2 cycles/3 months before ttc again but I have had another liver functioning test and full blood count done since the methotrexate and they are normal so this suggests to me that it is no longer in my system or effecting my body now?
So if I was to have a folate test and it was high enough, would they no longer be a risk to a new pregnancy before the 3 month wait?
I am now almost ready to have my 2nd period since methotrexate and I am also taking 800mg of folic acid daily and have been for a couple of weeks.
I would contact my epu but they have not been very helpful through out my ectopic pregnancy and have asked ME questions as to why I have had to have hcg bloods done while having methotrexate.
Any info/ advice would be appreciated. Tia x

Hi
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I've had three miscarriages now since starting to try for my first in summer 2022. The last one in February 2023 was an ectopic and treated with methotrexate. I don't have any specific information relating to your questions regarding folate levels and if its safe to try once these are in normal range. Maybe someone else will comment for us both..
But i still wanted to reach out to let you know your not alone, I contacted the ectopic pregnancy Trust in the end as my information was limited and confusing from the hospital. They have an email on their website and respond pretty quickly. I've attached a screen shot of something I found useful on the website.
3 months seems like such a long time but personally I know I'd blame my self if I got pregnant sooner and had another miscarriage even if that miscarriage was unrelated to the methotrexate.
I hope you get your happy ending ❤️ hopefully there's someone who can share a positive out come or some clarity to your questions. X

I had an ectopic and they couldn't use this on me but I was told by the nurse that it's a chemo drug that works by targeting any rapidly multiplying cells and so you can't TTC for 3 months as there's a risk that it could target any other pregnancy x

Hey, thankyou for your replies both of you. Only just got back on. It is used for chemo but at much larger doses and is out of your system after a few days hence the day 7 hcg blood test and if they isn't a sufficient drop in hcg then another dose is needed as it wont continue to work after day 7 because of it coming out of the your system.

I would not ttc if they is a risk which is why i wanted some more Info regarding wether the risk is just folate related and I'm assuming is the case. They is just so much conflicting advice with regards to the timeline of ttc after methotrexate some only have to wait 1 cycle after and some are told to wait 6 months so wondered if anyone had abit more knowledge on it.

My ectopic went on for a long time before they diagnosed it so seems like its been forever without the 3 month wait after treatment. I am coming up to my second period but I don't think I can count my first as a proper cycle as the ectopic trust says it has to be a full cycle so assuming my first one wouldn't be considered as one.
Thankyou for your replies lovelies and I'm really sorry you both have had to also go through this, it's heart breaking x x