Surgical management of ectopic - experiences?

[Anon8729]

Hello,

I sadly had surgical management (removal of one tube) for an ectopic earlier in the week. I haven't yet spoken with the consultant who performed the operation so was hoping I could get some advice from people who have unfortunately experienced this before.

• How long should it be before I start bleeding and how long does the bleeding last?
• how long before you get a negative pregnancy test?
• do you need blood tests to track your hCG levels and do they need to go back to zero? How long does this take?
• when can you start trying to get pregnant again?
• is there anything else you think is helpful to know/expect?

Any advice at all is incredibly welcome.

Thank you

I’m so sorry for your loss and that you’ve been through this.

I had an ectopic 4 years ago, so some of the detail is a bit hazy now.

I can’t remember exactly how long it took me to get a period after. I think it was perhaps a few weeks. I definitely felt the cramps were much worse than usual, because I hadn’t fully healed internally. So stock up on paracetamol.

I was asked to take a pregnancy test at 2 weeks to make sure none of the tissue remained.

I was told that I could start trying again during my next cycle. I was really keen to, but my husband wasn’t as he’s nearly lost me and was scared of it happening again. In the end, although it was tough at the time, I’m glad I had a breather of a couple of months.

The doctor also told me that although losing a fallopian tube obviously impacts your fertility, it’s not by as much as you think, only 10% or so. The remaining fallopian tube can apparently “reach around” and collect eggs from the other ovary. The female body is incredible.

It’s a really shit thing to have happen, and it took me a good while to process it all. I had flashbacks to being in hospital and found therapy and my amazing yoga teacher both invaluable in helping me move forward.

Wishing you all the best

Hi lovely. I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had to go through this. I’m currently 1 day post SMM (lost my baby on 2nd Jan) and did get to speak with the nurses yesterday.

I was told bleeding would happen for up to 2 weeks but should get lighter, I’m already finding it’s eased off a lot.

Regarding taking a test I was told to do this in 3 weeks time. If it’s negative everything is ok but positive can indicate that there may still be some tissue left.

i was told I can try again after my next period, but emotionally it’s just when you are ready. In terms of the period it will apparently be heavier and more painful than usual so be prepared.

sending you lots of love x

So sad sorry you experienced an ectopic. I've been there too.

• How long should it be before I start bleeding and how long does the bleeding last?
It was a couple of weeks for me and lasted a few days.

• how long before you get a negative pregnancy test?
I didn't do one so not sure but imagine a few days.

• do you need blood tests to track your hCG levels and do they need to go back to zero? How long does this take?
I didn't have any so not sure.

• when can you start trying to get pregnant again?
After your next period.

• is there anything else you think is helpful to know/expect?
My sister had three babies with one tube so just wanted to let you know it's all possible.

Sending you healing thoughts and best wishes for trying again.

Hi @Anon8729 - I had emergency surgery for an ectopic four years ago, I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

• How long should it be before I start bleeding and how long does the bleeding last? Do you mean from the op or your next period? I don’t recall much bleeding following the op, period came about 4-6 weeks later.

• how long before you get a negative pregnancy test? I had to test two weeks later and it was negative.

• do you need blood tests to track your hCG levels and do they need to go back to zero? How long does this take? I didn’t have to do this, no

• when can you start trying to get pregnant again? My surgeon said to wait out one period, then I could try again the next cycle. I fell pregnant on that cycle, two months after my ectopic.

• is there anything else you think is helpful to know/expect? Is this your first pregnancy? It was mine, and I felt so lost and scared about future fertility. I posted on here as all I wanted to know was how likely it would be to fall pregnant and have a successful pregnancy. I now have a 3 year old and a 5 month old (both fell pregnant within two months of trying) so I would just say please don’t lose hope - there is every reason to have a bright future ahead.

Wish you a speedy recovery x

I'm so sorry OP. I had an ectopic and had emergency surgery to remove my fallopian tube last April. They did have to end up doing a laparotomy to remove mine, so my experience won't be exactly the same, but I bled for maybe two weeks after.

I had a negative test not long after the procedure, a day or so. My GP surgery called me back for further tests maybe a month later.

As mentioned in this thread, your fertility is not halved as you might expect - the fallopian tubes are more 'active' than you'd think, and I had very regular periods soon after my procedure.

We didn't TTC again until very recently as I have been nervous about losing my other tube. I did get pregnant the first time we tried. However I'm currently going through a missed miscarriage right now - but that likely has nothing to do with the ectopic, they are very common. I will be trying again.

I've looked up lots of online support, here and via Tommy's and reddit. And it's reassuring to see so many women have had successful pregnancies after an ectopic.

Please look after yourself, make sure you have support and take the time you need to recover.

Sending you all the best.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and sharing your experiences. I had the laparoscopy six days ago now and no bleeding yet. Hopefully that if this is inevitable it starts asap. Also no change to the strength of pregnancy test yet (still as strong as pre surgery), again hopefully that changes soon. So good to hear stories of successful TTC, at least at the minute I want to start trying as soon as we possibly can.

Heya lovely how are you getting on now? I'm 3days post op no bleeding from op as of yet :( are you feeling any better in yourself x