Hope after 3 ectopic + 1 MC

Hello everyone,

I’m 35 years old and it has been a long road. We’ve TTC since 2016. Along the way we’ve had 2 ectopic from natural conception, 1 ectopic after IVF (fresh cycle), 1 miscarriage after medicated FET#1.

The miscarriage was definitely the worst thing not only physically (very painfully) but emotionally. I was completely heartbroken.

Soon after I tried to have a natural FET but it had to be cancelled, I was not OK emotionally and that disrupted all my hormonal cycle. Doctor told me to seek counselling and it was good for me.

I know that everyone’s background is different but I’m sure we all have something positive to hold on. So, my key message is to think about the positive things I have achieved: #1 I can get pregnant and at the moment I don't have other problems apart from my tubes which were removed. #2 My husband fertility is also OK. #3 I did get pregnant and it was in the right place (uterus). So, I need to keep on trying until I get my baby!

I did FET#2 and I had a BFP. Currently waiting for the viability scan. It hasn’t been a smoothie journey (progesterone was low, TSH was low) but we need to have HOPE.

[KatDub]

Your story is so inspiring Lucy! Giving us all hope. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy!

[Hidden in reply to KatDub]

Thank you very much Kat! All the best for you too!

[Nat246]

Hi Lucy. Sorry for all that’s happened to you. Good luck with your upcoming scan! With your ectopic after ivf.... did you still have your tubes at that point? Or was it somewhere else?

[Hidden in reply to Nat246]

Hi Nat,

When we started IVF I had both my tubes.

1st ectopic right tube I had an injection of methotrexate.

2nd ectopic left tube I did surgery. Doc checked both tubes and they seemed OK, so they decided only to do a salpingotomy (incision into the tube to remove the ectopic).

After that we TTC for a year but nothing. We saw a fertility doc and she advised us to do IVF and to try on having blastocysts (5-day embryons) to transfer. Doc said that this way the risk of another ectopic was very low.

Unfortunately, the 5-day embryon we had transferred was stubborn and went up in the wrong direction for the implantation (right tube). I had surgery and we decided to remove both tubes.

Most ectopics happen in the fallopian tubes (95%). The other locations are rare but possible (like abdominal, ovarian or cervical).

I already did a 6w scan because I'm having spotting. We saw 2 tiny heartbeats! Hope this time they stick until the end.

Good luck to you too!

[kitscat]

Hi Lucyyyyy, huge congratulations on the pregnancy! Can I ask, do you know the cause of your ectopics? Xx

[Hidden in reply to kitscat]

Hi,

Unfortunately doctors never found the cause for my ectopics.

I had 2 ectopic from natural conception (first on the right tube and the 2nd on the left tube). After the 2nd one I had surgery to remove the pregnancy and they checked both my fallopian tubes and there was no obstruction and no signs of infection – tubes seemed OK and that’s why they kept both. Doc said that probably I had cilia problems, but it was impossible to check that even with the HSG test.

The Fallopian tubes are full of tiny hairs called cilia which essentially function to carry the fertilized egg from the ovary to the uterus. Anything that interrupts the cilia’s ability to carry out this process – that is, anything that causes them to stop moving or lose their “grip” on the egg — can result in the egg implanting itself in the Fallopian tubes.

There are some factors that appear to be linked to higher incidences of ectopic pregnancy (pelvic inflammatory disease, having an IUD, previous surgeries, endometriosis and smoking). But I didn’t have any of those.

My 3rd ectopic was after IVF (fresh cycle). It was in the right tube. Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization can also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Also I probably had a scar in my tube left from my 1st ectopic which can increase the chances.

The fact is that things only started working for me after removing both my fallopian tubes.