methotrexate injection for treatment of ectopic pregnancy

[laylasmummy09]

does anyone have any experience of this? i have been asked to consider it as my pregnancy is not viable and the doctors cant tell if its tubal or in the womb, they say its only a slight risk its ectopic and too slight to warrent surgery to investigate, they want me to have the injection to dizzolve the pregnancy wherever it is and they only gave me a small leaflet about it and im worried about future effects x

I'm sorry to hear about your situation laylasmummy.

I've had a methotrexate injection about 20 months ago for a confirmed ectopic pregnancy. I don't think there are any long term side effects for the drug, as far as I know, but ask the questions of your doctor. You only get one, maybe two doses, rather than a course of injections, so it limits the side effects. The only side effect I had was some hair loss a week or two later (not clumps, but a lot more than usual on the pillow and in the shower).

Methotrexate is a old chemotherapy drug which attacks fast growing tissue i.e. the ectopic fetus and hair folicles. I think the drug is fairly powerful in the short term and you are warned not to try to get pregnant for 3 of 4 months after taking it, to make sure it is fully out your system. I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and have had a very weasy pregnancy

So sorry to hear you're going through this...

I don't have direct experience of your situation but have had an ectopic pregnancy. I had my tube removed but through the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust know lots of women who have had the methotrexate jab and gone on to have babies. Lots of info at ectopic.org.uk including midwife monitored forums.

You will also find a lot of emotional support there...x

that would be "easy" pregnancy this time round.

I also wanted to say that you and the doctors must be sure that your pregnancy is truly not viable before taking the methotrexate.

I had this a year ago for ectopic pregnancy, the injection itself was fine but i had to go to hospital every 2 days for blood tests to confirm the hcg levels were falling, this continued until the hcg levels went to zero. I was also advised not to try and get pregnant for 3 months and that the drug can affect the immune system so found myself picking up every bug going for about 3 months.