Ectopic Pregnancy Not Located on Ultrasound

[tm0820]

Hi guys, I’ve been a lurker and found threads so useful but never posted. I’m hoping someone might have advice or experience with ectopic pregnancy.

In August I found out I was pregnant, but it was odd because it didn’t show positive until 2 days after I missed my period. Few days later had spotting, so went to hospital and they couldn’t see anything in the ultrasound and my beta was at 81 at 5 weeks so probably a miscarriage. They told me to come back and check my beta, I did 3 days later and it was at 88 so they diagnosed me with a miscarriage as I’d started bleeding as well. I was concerned that it had gone up slightly and said I was really worried about an ectopic and they reassured me it was not.

10 days later did a follow up beta to confirm miscarriage, but meanwhile pregnancy tests kept getting darker and my boobs were sore so I was really worried and told the midwife this but she dismissed me and gave me advice on getting pregnant again (!) Next day they called me saying beta was at 600 so I went to the ER to get another ultrasound and possibly methotrexate. They saw a hemmoragic cyst on my right ovary but nothing else. Beta was around 840. They still said it might be viable and dismissed my concerns, I went in again 2 days later for more beta and it had gone to 1200 something. Still nothing but the cyst was seen and they wouldn’t give me methotrexate.

Finally the next day the OB at the original practice called and asked if I had gotten the injection yet, I said the hospital kept refusing so she advised me to go back and have them call her. Beta was almost 1700 at that point and nothing but the cyst was seen on the ultrasound. I begged them to give me methotrexate at this point because I was so scared so they finally did and after another dose my hcg finally went to zero around a month later.

I don’t have any of the risk factors and this was my third pregnancy-first was a termination at 8 weeks and second was a missed miscarriage discovered at 8 weeks, baby died about a week or so before. So I know my tubes worked fine twice before in the recent past. I’d like to try again but I’m so scared of another ectopic.

Has anyone had this happen before? Is it normal not to be able to locate the ectopic?

Sorry for the novel and thanks so much for taking the time to read xxxx

I'm not sure I can help much but I have experienced am ectopic pregnancy. By beta I assume you mean HCG levels. I was told they should approx double every few days and when they didn't that was the biggest indicator. I had an op and tube removed.
Take care xx

It’s so long ago I can scarcely remember the details but at one point the actually operated on me to see if they could find an ectopic pregnancy. (Keyhole/camera).

They couldn’t find one and it seems I just had a regular mc, but I’m telling you that because I’d already had an ectopic so when a subsequent pregnancy started going wrong, they kept a close eye on me.

💐

Yes, I meant hcg levels sorry! I’m in the US so I’ll be able to go in for hcg blood tests as soon as I find out I’m pregnant the next time luckily but mentally the stress of all that is so awful. I’m so sorry you both suffered this too It’s hard because now I worry I’ll never be able to have a child, as if I didn’t feel enough guilt for the termination already. Did they tell you what might have caused the ectopic? I kept asking and was repeatedly told chlamydia but I’ve never had an STD.

I had an ectopic pregnancy a few years ago. I already had an 18 month old child, so as far as I knew, everything was in working order so to speak.

I had quite a few symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, such as severe abdominal pain and no progress of normal/expected pregnancy symptoms. I also fainted at one point. When I went to the EPU, the first thing they did was give me a scan. The doctor didn't 'see' the ectopic pregnancy as such, just free fluid, which I now know was bleeding from my ruptured fallopian tube. I had emergency surgery shortly after. Despite having a tube removed, I conceived again about a year later and had a second baby.

Not sure I'm much help, but I'm so sorry you went through this. It's frightening enough losing a pregnancy, without the added worry of not being certain of the cause

So sorry

Nearly 20 years ago I had an ectopic that they couldn't find either by scanning or when they went in surgically, so they used methotrexate. I don't remember the details but IIRC it wasn't protocol then (or certainly not at my local hospital) so using it was all a bit of a palaver and I ended up having to have it twice.

And just to give you some hope, pre-ectopic I'd had 2 pregnancies, one many years earlier when I had a termination and just before the ectopic I had a miscarriage, but my next pregnancy was successful.

You’ve all been so helpful, thank you! xxxx Just talking to other women who’ve been through the same thing is very reassuring, although I’m sorry you’ve been in the same awful boat. I read through a lot of threads here on mumsnet when I was in and out of the hospital trying to figure out what was going on and it was a godsend honestly, I feel I learned more on here than from any doctor!

I did get a referral for an endocrinologist to run a whole slew of tests (I also have a bicornuate uterus) and I did the consultation but at the end of the day they are a fertility clinic so kept talking about IVF without ever having done so much as a blood test or single exam on me so it was all really overwhelming and my husband and I have put that off for now. My pregnancies were conceived on the first try so I didn’t think I’d be in this situation but it just goes to show you! Have any of you done an hsg or any of those tests? I know in other countries they won’t run tests until a third miscarriage (I lived in Ireland for 5 years and the previous pregnancies were over there) I’ve been taking Chinese herbs and a few supplements but not sure if I’m being naive taking them instead of doing all the proper investigations!

Hi, I just wanted to update this thread in case anyone in a similar position stumbles upon it and needs a bit of hope. I didn’t end up going for more testing as my husband and I decided to try again the month after I wrote this post, I got pregnant right away and am now 22 weeks with a healthy baby boy. I ovulated from the same side as the ectopic so likely from the same tube as well. Just wanted to share this positive update for anyone struggling after an ectopic!