TTC after methotrexate & emergency surgery for ectopic?

[RosieC123]

I am looking for some advice following methotrexate and emergency surgery!

On the 7th of August I had the methotrexate injection due to a pregnancy of unknown location. This didn’t work and I eventually had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and on 17th August emergency surgery to remove my left tube.

Advice is conflicting so I am confused. I was told after the injection to wait 3 months to TTC then after my surgery was told the same. There was no mention of folic acid and that I need to start taking it but when I have looked online it says you need to take folic acid for 12 weeks before TTC again.

So I am so confused as when i am able to try again? I have been taking folic acid for a number of weeks after I read the online advice.

I am also wondering if you can be taking folic acid while TTC (even if it’s not 12 weeks of taking it) and then if you fall pregnant continue up to 12 weeks and this is fine?

I cannot contact the EPU for advice as they are extremely unhelpful and tbh my whole experience with them has been a nightmare.

So grateful for any advice or similar experiences

xxxx

Hi OP, I'm so sorry for your loss and what you have gone through and that you've had an awful experience with your EPAU.

I haven't had an ectopic pregnancy, so have no personal experience, but used to work in an area where patients were given methotrexate for a different reason, and the advice we gave was for them to wait for three months after stopping methotrexate before TTC. From what I can remember, this is because methotrexate can stay in the body for a while and can affect the way a baby develops.

Have you been on the ectopic trust's website? They have some information about trying to conceive again and folic acid:
https://ectopic.org.uk/physical-recovery/trying-to-conceive-again
They also have a helpline that you can ring. Lots of love xx

Thank you so much for your reply it's really helpful and I will have a look at the link ☺️

Hey, also had a similar experience around the same time. You're right about waiting 3months for the methotrexate to leave your system to ttc BUT you can start taking folic acid once your hormones reduce to safe levels, for me this was about two weeks after the injection, so effectively 3 &1/2 months from the injection to safe to ttc.

I luckily found a very kind nurse & doctor at the EPU who confirmed this

Thanks for your reply ☺️So I do have to be taking folic acid for the 12 weeks before TTC? for me I was never made aware of this until I read it online recently so have only been taking it for around 6 weeks

Ideally yes, as methotrexate drains folic acid from your body, so you need it more than ever.

They should make it clearer though that you can start folic acid as soon as your hormone levels are back to normal.