TTC after an ectopic and losing one tube

[Tally89]

Hi there,

First time posting here, looking for some reassurance from ppl who've been through something similar and some positive stories pls!

I had an ectopic in 2020 and had an emergency surgery to remove my right tube. 3 years later I'm now 34 and TTC. I have this fear that it's going to be really difficult for me or that there might be something wrong with my remaining tube. I did consider having a hycosy to check remaining left tube, but decided against it as it seemed quite invasive and wanted to try naturally first. My husband is American living in the US atm and I'm in the UK. I was just with him for 2 months and we tried for 2 full cycles when I was there. BD every day/every other day. First cycle = no luck. Now waiting to see if AF arrives after our 2nd try. He'll be moving here full time next year so we'll continue to try then.

I felt so down after our negative test last month. I know it's unlikely to get BFF after first cycle, but it still was very emotionally difficult to get a negative. Can anyone share a positive story / ideas on how long it took them to get a BFF after an ectopic? I'm worried my age might be a factor :(

After my second ectopic it took about 19 months to get pregnant again.

(After the first ectopic, I didn't try with that partner again, so I can't say how long it took to get pregnant iyswim? Both my ectopic lodged in the same side, luckily, so I still had one working tube left. Two ectopic on the same side is very VERY rare, so don't worry)

Thanks for coming back to me @MammaWeasel and congrats on your pregnancy, I hope all went well :)

Do you mind me asking if you considered doing IVF or anything like that while you were TTC?

I feel your pain. After surgery and only 1 tube I was doom and gloom about my chances. It took 5 months of persistent POAS TTC first time-age 30. And 8 months second time- age 32. The human body is amazing and having no tube on one side does not reduce your chance to every other month as I'd have assumed. The egg follows hormones and can still get there. The main advice I would give is have sec every 2 days mid cycle and keep yourself busy for that 2 week wait to avoid obsessing. Good luck xx

Hello! No success story (yet!) But just wanted to say I understand how you feel. I'm on cycle 2 of TTC with only 1 tube, after an ectopic last year. I'm 38 so time is even less on my side (i do have a 2.5yo DS conceived before the ectopic, so I'm already lucky).

I was actually quite scared last cycle of giving myself another ectopic.

I've been trying to eat well, exercise, and I'm taking a few supplements. I think the supplements are potentially just an expensive way to make me feel I'm doing everything I can...

Sounds like you're still not out this cycle yet 🤞

I had an ectopic and my right tube removed back in March 2021.

I fell pregnant again in the May (which sadly ended in a miscarriage) and then pregnant again in August 2021 which my ds was born in 2022 and now 16 weeks pregnant again with my 2nd from doing the deed once 😬 So from my experience it hasn't impacted my fertility.

When I had the ectopic the DR said having a tube removed doesn't have much affect on your fertility so try and stay positive. You have just as much chance at falling pregnant as anyone else!!

Best wishes OP you will get your positive ❤️

I have one ovary and tube due to ovarian cancer. Had a couple of miscarriages and then it took a year and a half after those to fall pregnant the third time but we done it and I'm being induced on Friday. I'm 33 too

@celebrityskin thanks for sharing and for the advice :) the obsessing is real! I'm so glad it worked out for you :)

@YellowZ sounds like we're in a similar boat. I hear you about the fear of it happening again. I'm a bit scared of that too. Period due Friday so...we'll see. But I do feel like I'm having all the usual AF symptoms (cramps, headaches...) so I think I'm out. I'm trying to hard not to get my hopes up and then get crushed by a BFN! Wishing you lots of luck for this cycle!

Check out lucie Houchin on YouTube, she has experience of what you have been through

Everyone’s different but having one tube didn’t impact conception for me. I was lucky that we conceived quickly each time (within 3 cycles) but I conceived four times after my ectopic - two more miscarriages and two DC.

Also the scans showed that both successful pregnancies started with eggs from my tubeless side.

It didn't impact my chances op. I had an ectopic and one tube removed and got pregnant the next month and everything was absolutely fine. Good luck.

I was taking Clomid and had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy in 2008 and tube removed. Waited 3 months before trying again and fell pregnant in December that year. It’s a worry and my gp was great and arranged for me to have an early scan to check things were on the right place, which they were and my son is now 14. I was 35 when I had him. Best wishes.

Hi Op-

I have had 2 Ectopics, my first I had methotrexate and the second (I conceived 3rd cycle after starting to ‘try’ again) the embryo got stuck in the scar tissue in the same tube as my initial ectopic. I then had to have the tube removed and was worried about the impact on my fertility. I was reassured by the drs who told me that my fertility was only reduced slightly.

Anyway, I managed to conceive on my second ‘try’ after having my tube removed. Unfortunately that was a missed miscarriage. I then conceived on our first ‘try’ the month after- and I ovulated from the opposite side to my tube. I now have a verrrry busy 10 month old!

Good luck and try not to worry, I really thought I’d never get there but I just wish I’d trusted the doctors at the time when they tried to tell me how losing a tube wasn’t the end of the road. In fact my fertility improved after getting rid of my ‘dud’ tube.