2 misscarriages in a row

[Julie1992]

Hi
I’m 26years old. I had a miscarriage last year(11weeks) and a ectopic pregnancy this year(6 weeks) . I did not need any tube removed or methotrexate . I am so worried as initally one doctor had said it was an ectopic and the other said it wasn’t but they could see something in the tube , but did not investigate anymore when my hormone levels started to drop and eventually the pregnancy test was negative . I was only bleeding but did not have any pain in shoulder or back ( that they would talk about with a ectopic pregnancy) Anybody else been in this situation? Any advice welcome.
Thanks

Hello. I’m sorry you are going through this. I have had 2 ectopics and 4 miscarriages, but amongst all that I also have two lovely children.

Lots of ectopics are never seen on scan, but if your hormones are at a particular level and nothing can be seen in your uterus then an ectopic is diagnosed. They can be tricky to diagnose generally.

Lots of ectopics stop developing and self resolve, so no treatment is needed, which sounds like what happened in your case.

I didn’t have pain with either of my ectopics.

Is there anything you want to talk about that I might be able to help with?

Thanks so much for the reply Polly.
Do you mind me asking did you need any intervention? I am just afraid now that a tube will have scar tissue and I will have another one, because I know I am at higher risk of having another one.

I think about it every single day and really feel that until I have a successful pregnancy , I will not settle.

Sorry to hear what you have been through. Are you questioning whether or not your pregnancy was ectopic? I have had two miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies. My first ectopic pregnancy was like yours. My only symptom was bleeding and it was treated with methotrexate. My second ectopic ruptured and I lost my tube. Shoulder pain is caused by internal bleeding.

If your tube didn't start to rupture then you won't have experienced pain but that doesn't mean you didn't have an ectopic pregnancy. They give methotrexate to treat ectopic pregnancies or pregnancies of unknown location. Your GP should have notes from the hospital and should be able to answer your questions. They should have advised you not to try to get pregnant for three months after the methotrexate. The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust are a great resource and can help answer any questions you may have. How are you feeling?

Sorry to hear what you have been through. Are you questioning whether or not your pregnancy was ectopic? I have had two miscarriages and two ectopic pregnancies. My first ectopic pregnancy was like yours. My only symptom was bleeding and it was treated with methotrexate. My second ectopic ruptured and I lost my tube. Shoulder pain is caused by internal bleeding.

If your tube didn't start to rupture then you won't have experienced pain but that doesn't mean you didn't have an ectopic pregnancy. They give methotrexate to treat ectopic pregnancies or pregnancies of unknown location. Your GP should have notes from the hospital and should be able to answer your questions. They should have advised you not to try to get pregnant for three months after the methotrexate. The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust are a great resource and can help answer any questions you may have. How are you feeling?

So sorry, it's late and I'm half asleep. Just reread your post and see that you didn't have methotrexate. Ectopics can resolve themselves and it sounds like the hospital have monitored you closely.

Hi Ameri

Thank you for reply.
I was so worried incase I would have to get a tube removed as I knew this would lower my chances of getting pregnant again.
My biggest fear is having to go through IVF in the future.
I work in neonatal ,so Work can be tough going emotionally.
I do think myself it was a miscarriage, but the hospital had saw something in one of the tubes on the Thursday and on the Sunday the Reg said she definitely doesn't think what they saw was an ectopic. This all happened at the end of April, so I guess it's best to try again and see could it be third time lucky maybe!!!

Have you been successful after two ectopics?

I did, Julie.

The first time I had methotrexate which worked and the second time (6 months later, same tube) I had surgery.

I think it is fair to say that because I kept my tube whatever caused the first ectopic and/or scarring from the first one led to the second. The fact that I had one ectopic did I think make me higher risk for the second.

I was very glad when they removed my tube the second time. The doctor did try to save it but couldn’t, and I was pregnant again- this time in the right place - a few months later.

I was told that having had one ectopic my risk went from 1 in 10 to 1 in 4 of another one, and once I’d had the tube out, assuming my remaining tube was heathy, my risk was back to 1 in 10. None of my susbequent 4 pregnancies was ectopic (although 3 failed, but that’s just one of those things).

So while it is more likely that having had one ectopic you will have another it is not a forgone conclusion - lots of women won’t. It was also much less scary the second time around - I knew what to expect, was given an early scan by two very good consultants, operated on the next day, didn’t have to have all of those repeat blood tests and was never in any danger.

The only advice I can give you is to try not to worry. If you want to be pregnant you are going to have to run the risk of another ectopic, but at least you will be well taken care of if it comes to it. Even if you were to have another ectopic you can still have a baby. You have two tubes for a reason! My youngest child came from my ovary on the tubeless side - your ovaries and tubes are close together and the tubes are mobile. You are young and time is on your side - mine happened in my 30s, with my last MC at 42, so a very different situation. I do remember how consumed I was by my need to have a baby. I could think of little else, but all of that obsessing didn’t change anything, it just took a lot of my happiness during that period.

Thanks so much for the reply poppy.
This makes this a lot clearer. The hospital didn't really give me a lot of advice and when I went to the GP (a trainee ) she said to me , she had never heard of anyone having an ectopic pregnancy and not getting methotrexate or a tube removed, at that stage she had not received notes from hospital so she did put it down as a miscarriage.
So in my head I am trying to convince myself that it was just another miscarriage.
Although to be honest , I am young and healthy , so miscarriage or ectopic , I continue to ask myself why. I know they are common but I always ask myself did I do something wrong!! Probably natural to feel guilty, even though it is completely out of my control.
I have started to take some vitamins over the last four months, so maybe that will help and relaxing a bit more.
Your story does give me hope and I really appreciate it x

Polly**
Apologies 🙈

@Stresshead1992 Yes, amazingly after years of trying to get pregnant and losing one of my tubes I got pregnant just three months after my second ectopic and had a successful pregnancies. Even after multiple losses your chance of having a successful pregnancy is higher than it not working out. Best of luck for the future.

You didn’t do anything wrong. It is honestly just one of those things whether it was a miscarriage or an ectopic. The vast majority of miscarriages are down to a random chromosomal abnormality (ie not an inherited condition) and that could happen to anyone. Similarly lots of ectopics happen to women with none of the risk factors.

I know it is really hard, but just keep trying. One step at a time, and hopefully you’ll get there soon.

Thank you so much ladies for replies.
Have a little holiday booked , so maybe try again then when I have relaxed a little more.