The last 4 weeks has been that of emotional trauma for me. My first ever positive PT now being managed as suspected ectopic pregnancy/pregnancy of unknown location.After two failed FET from DE my 3rd transfer with positive test now ending as a suspected Ectopic.The painful part is even the diagnostic challenge and having to choose between taking Methotrexate injection or going for diagnostic/therapeutic laparoscopy.
Am just at a crossroad and not knowing which direction to take.
Am feeling so sad and depressed 😔
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BelovedofGod
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Have your EPU seen an ectopic on screen? If not, there 3rd option is expectant management. But you may already have had a couple of weeks of this.
In case it is helpful, I had a laproscopy in October for a visible ectopic. It was pretty ok. I was up and about within a few hours.
It was sore but manageable
My recovery was about 4weeks to being more or less completely better.
I had an unrelated hysteroscopy after 6 weeks and, even with all of that, was able to have and FET in January (with downreg from 23rd Dec).
With methylyrexate, I wouldn't have been able to start thinking about an FET until mid-Jan (3 months post taking it). Also, and this might just be my EPU's stats, but I seem to remember them saying it was only effective in 30% of paitents. And it can be a lot of bleeding and hospital trips.
I was an emergency surgery, so in for a couple of daya but, when it is planned, you'd be in and out in a day (almost a shame as the jam sponge and custard was almost worth staying in for...).
So, I'm a big surgery fan, in these 'no good option' choices. But I'd encourage you to talk through the impact of all the options, the resolution time and the ongoing impact, if you're wanting to try again.
I hope that's helpful and, once again, so sorry you're having to face this.xx
Many thanks for your response. It's been a diagnostic challenge as no EP seen on scan but the pattern of rising HCG they say is suggestive.I got my first PT positive on 17th march and since then it's been repeated testing of about 48hrs interval. So am not too keen about conservative management.
I am leaning more towards laparoscopic though as I believe its both diagnostic and therapeutic.
That's a long old stretch! My first PUL was about 6 weeks. It did resolve but it was only 3wks of expectant management.
The other option I was given for PUL was MVA, which is a tiny catheter used to apply light suction in uterus. You have it done without sedation, so quick recovery.
Mine said they'd offer that first, if I wanted, to see if it would resolve. If not, I'd have needed further treatment.
Hopefully they can visualise through laproscopy.xx
I’m so sorry you’re facing this. Looking back for me I’d have opted for surgical management earlier. We tried expectant management (we could clearly see the pregnancy in my tube on the scan) but ended up in emergency surgery then with rupture. I guess really I don’t regret trying it because it did seem the right thing at the time. And hindsight is a great thing.
My unit didn’t offer methotrexate as it has become out of favour in more specialist centres, and I was glad as I didn’t want an enforced wait to TTC again following it. And the potential failure and repeated injections and still potentially ending up in surgery etc would all have put me off.
I had only just recovered from a big endometriosis op a few weeks before, so my recovery from the ectopic pregnancy op was harder and I had some wound issues but I was still back in work and reasonably functional at 4 weeks. I have ended up with a complication at my belly button even a year later but I think even with this with hindsight I’d have chosen surgery sooner to get it done with. The emotional aspects managing things through expectant or methotrexate management is bloody awful. It was only after the op I could start to process and heal emotionally.
The other thing I’d say is that who you have around to support and be there in case of emergency is a big factor too. I have a husband who works away a lot and no family locally so it was a big issue to need someone with me 24/7 during expectant management ( I imagine same true for methotrexate) and I needed admission twice too as I had bleeds.
The ectopic pregnancy trust helpline and forum was really invaluable to me.
Many thanks for your contribution. All good to know you've recovered well now. The support is a bit of challenge for me as well. My husband works from home and we don't have any one locally.
But I am sure I'll be fine. I'll prefer the surgical option as well as I am not ready for the back and forth with methotrexate.
I had an ectopic from my very first IVF cycle in 2023. I was offered both options and I chose the laparoscopic/tube removal. My surgeon actually said that was the best decision as having a damaged tube would only put me at further risk of a future ectopic.
I also didn’t like the idea that methotrexate wasn’t guaranteed to work, I felt like I’d been thought enough without prolonging what was happening.
I recovered quickly after my op physically.
I was pregnant again 6 months after and now have a healthy baby girl so please don’t give up. Be kind to yourself at a time like this also xxx
I’m really sorry to hear that you going this, I had a ectopic in 2024 and know what a difficult and lonely place it can be.
I opted for methotrexate which I regretted after, the first methotrexate injection didn’t work so I then had to have a 2nd injection. It took months for my levels to go back to normal and frequent visits to the hospital every week for blood tests and worrying about the possibility of rupturing throughout this time.
It then delayed the process of being able to do IVF again as I had to wait at least 6 months before trying again and now run the risk of having an ectopic again so wish I had reduced this risk.
The ectopic pregnancy trust website was helpful and they have a forum you can ask questions on the site which I found helpful.
I wish you all the best with what ever decision you make and all the best on your journey.
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