By registering on our forum, you can view and contribute to more topics on ectopic pregnancy. Your details are confidential and we do not send unsolicited emails. For your confidentiality, you can choose your own forum name to protect your anonymity if you so wish. If you register, there is no obligation to post; you can simply take comfort from the words of others. It is entirely up to you whether you post a message or read others' experiences or do both.

Twinges after being discharged

This is a welcoming place for you to ask your questions and share your knowledge and experiences of ectopic pregnancy.
To keep this as a safe space, before being able to post freely, an administrator will need to activate your account and authorise your first post.
Post Reply
Sophie123
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:34 pm

Twinges after being discharged

Post by Sophie123 »

Hi there

I have been successfully treated for an ectopic in my right tube - for which I had one injection of methotrexate and was discharged with an HCG level of 3. My peak hcg level was 588 during my treatment.

However it’s now been a couple of weeks and I have started getting twinges/ brief pain in the same location on right hand side. I am also still getting occasional slight bleeding/ coloured discharge.

Is this normal? Just a little concerned as meant to be flying on Friday.

Also, I started taking folic acid as soon as I was discharged from hospital - is that ok?

Many thanks

Sophie

EPT Host 20
Posts: 3155
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 10:58 pm

Re: Twinges after being discharged

Post by EPT Host 20 »

Dear Sophie,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
It is not unusual for women to bleed after treatment for ectopic pregnancy. This first bleed after treatment is a response to falling hormone levels and involves shedding of the uterine lining and is not classed as a period. The length of the bleeding can vary from woman to woman and some women do report spotting and bleeding for up to around six weeks after an ectopic pregnancy.

Experiencing some pain after an ectopic pregnancy is normal as your body has been through a great deal. The pain may be due to your body preparing to ovulate and many women experience ovulation pain when they did not before their ectopic pregnancy - including myself. You also may have a heightened perception because of the sad loss that you have had to go through.

Whilst these symptoms are normal if you find you experience offensive smelling discharge or an increased temperature of more than 37°C it would be worth asking your doctors to run tests to check for infection, just to be on the safe side.

We advise starting folic acid once your hCG levels are below 5mIU/mL and we then take a folic acid supplement for 12 weeks before you try to conceive. This is because the Methotrexate may have reduced the level of folate in your body which is needed to ensure a baby develops healthily. The Methotrexate is metabolised quickly but it can affect the quality of your cells, including those of your eggs and the quality of your blood for up to three months after it has been given. The medicine can also affect the way your liver works and so you need to give your body time to recover properly before a new pregnancy is considered. A shortage of folate could result in a greater chance of a baby having a neural tube defect such as hare lip, cleft palate, or even spina bifida or other NT defects. This is why the "wait" and then taking folic acid for 12 weeks before trying to conceive is so important.

Sending much love,
Karen x

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811

**************************************************************************
If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering or fundraising?
Further information is available at ectopic.org.uk
Email us: ept@ectopic.org.uk
We provide a call-back helpline service: 020 7733 2653
The latest EPT newsletter is out now! You can take a look at the Winter edition and subscribe to our mailing list here: https://mailchi.mp/986bdd6091ee/ectopic-matters
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team
***************************************************************************

Post Reply