Am I ovulating after ectopic?

[Hlouisebaby3]

hey ladies,

Been away from the forum for a while....
Bit confused and needed some advice and opinions... I had an ectopic with tight tube removal on 1st Oct then a period 5 weeks later. In between I had ewcm so assumed I ovulated. I’ve had two periods now and am using opks this month. I had no ewcm last month and haven’t had any yet (currently at cd15) opks haven’t shown a positive yet in fact they’re so light there’s barely anything to even see!!

I’m wondering if I’ve stopped ovulating since my ectopic??? Kinda worried.... any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks xx

 

[Mandy123]

Hey Hun, I’m so sorry to hear what you have been through, I remember you from the testing threads. Hope you are okay.

I’ve absolutely no experience in what has happened to you but I feel like this side of the forum is sometimes a little quiet- didn’t want to not see you get some support.

However I have not been ovulating (so I can share this experience with you) and I am certain that is due to emotional stress - the first month i didn’t (it was confirmed with day 21 blood test during a fertility assessment) I was completely stunned - (annoyingly I hadn’t done opks as I was having a relaxed approach month). I hadn’t been overly stressed but I had been really emotionally upset about something at the start of my cycle - that’s the only thing I can think disrupted it. I do generally ovulate (and I was regular as clockwork with positive opks day 14 etc!!) as I had an internal scan the month before that confirmed ovulation.
At the end of this first month of confirmed non ovulation was when I also found out in the same appointment that we need IVF/ICSI (my husband has antibodies in his sperm, combined with a below range AMH for me) so it was a massive shock and an emotional & stressful/upsetting following month... and guess what i also had no ovulation confirmed again with day 21 bloods!!!
I guess my point is that it is amazing how our bodies react/ respond and unfortunately it becomes a viscous cycle of worry/stress!

I guess also opks can’t always be right (I.e you may have still ovulated!). I would try and listen to your body - if you have mucus take that as fertile over trusting opks? I have now had positive opks this past week based on what my cycles used to look like - but I also know that opks can just pick up a surge - so I may have ovulated (hoping!) but also may not have... my emotions are still pretty high!!!

I’m sorry if this is not much help. Did the doctors explain an impact on ovulation at all? Like I say I have absolutely no experience in what you have been through. Could you visit your gp and explain your worry? I’m sure they would be understanding given what you have been through and perhaps put your mind at rest or help you figure out a next step? (If you even need a next step!) I insisted on another day 21 test (as I was just so stunned to think I wasn’t ovulating! But my doctor and fertility consultant were not overly worried about it! It just does happen sometimes apparently!) but to be honest it was just upsetting and frustrating to find out I hadn’t ovulated and added to my stress - ultimately I’ve just had to let my body get through this rough patch and sort it’s self out. It’s so frustrating though when you are ttc as it’s ‘lost time’ - that’s how I viewed it so I can completely understand any worry/ frustration.

I don’t know the medical advice you have been given and I know this is easier said than done and I don’t want to sound insensitive or patronising (believe me I’ve heard so much of this said to me this past month/s) but try not to worry. You’ve been through a tough time so be kind to yourself and take care of yourself to help your body recover - in all ways! X

 

[Hlouisebaby3]

Thank you for your reply!

Sounds like you’ve been through a lot of emotional worry!!

I really do need to go to the gp but I just want to let it be until the new year and then I’ll make an appointment. They gave me no advice at all! They just said we could start trying whenever we wanted. I never considered there would be an issue with ovulation because they said my ovaries were fine and I damaged from the surgery. Just feels a bit deflating when you keep seeing negative opks! Im sure they’re not completely acccurate and I have had many days of high LH but just not peak. Maybe I peaked in the night or something?! Who knows!

I’m trying hard not to stress to much and just be relaxed about it. At a guess (and going from my strongest opk) I’m about 6dpo today. So there isn’t too long to wait until I’ll know for sure if this month was a waste.

I really hope we don’t need ivf. We only just got engaged in October and really want a baby before the proposed wedding in 2020.

What will be will be I guess!!

Thank you so much for your reply, the support is so appreciated

 

[Sydney]

Hi HLouise - I too had a ruptured ectopic with tube loss. I got my period 4 weeks exactly to the day after my surgery and then exactly 4 weeks after that. I think it's unlikely to stop ovulating because of the surgery. But perhaps your body is being protective and allowing some healing time? (That's what I'm also telling myself as a reason I've not caught yet..)

I never get EWCM - I used to when I was younger, but not anymore. I use the CB digital advance ovulation kit and the first month we TTC (after having a period) I did get a peak result on CD9 which was way too early for me normally (and hasn't happened since) and then didn't get my period in line with a 14 day luteal phase.. so I don't think things were right that month.

I'm currently in my fourth month TTC and it's so hard not knowing what's going on in there, which ovary am I ovulating from (so I could manage my expectations you know?). I'm due to get a HSG if not conceived after 6 months and just had my progesterone checked to see if I'm ovulating (not had the result yet).

I just got an AMH done to also add to my body of knowledge about my fertility status because if there are more problems, I want to know now and get on with IVF. It would be preferable to conceive naturally but I just don't have a good feeling about it

Stupid ectopics

 

[Hlouisebaby3]

Hey Sydney!

I’m sorry you’ve had this too but it’s nice to hear from women in the same shoes!

Are the docs more likely to help with IVF sooner if you’ve had ectopic? I’ve heard of so many women falling pregnant straight away after ectopic... so frustrating! Wish I was one of them! Testing commences in 6days ahhhhhh so nervous!!

It’s so tough not knowing what our bodies are doing! I took for granted how easily I used to fall pregnant Really hope you get your bfp soon!! Xxxx

 

[Sydney]

Hey Sydney!

I’m sorry you’ve had this too but it’s nice to hear from women in the same shoes!

Are the docs more likely to help with IVF sooner if you’ve had ectopic? I’ve heard of so many women falling pregnant straight away after ectopic... so frustrating! Wish I was one of them! Testing commences in 6days ahhhhhh so nervous!!

It’s so tough not knowing what our bodies are doing! I took for granted how easily I used to fall pregnant Really hope you get your bfp soon!! Xxxx

I know what you mean about people who know what you've gone through. I didn't know anyone and felt so alone.

The thing is, IVF is a risk factor for another ectopic. But ultimately I guess, if it's not happening naturally and problems are found (e.g. the tube is blocked, not conceiving naturally after a specified amount of time) then I guess IVF is still the way forward. For me in my mid-thirties, time is of the essence, so my GP said 6 months. I'm not sure I'd qualify for IVF quicker due to the ectopic alone but perhaps if there are other factors added to the scenario then perhaps they will consider me. I would presume they would if the tube is blocked for example as any natural attempts to conceive are futile.

I am trying to take the positive that I managed to conceive which means I do ovulate, but as my only pregnancy experience ended in such a tragic way and I feel like my body failed, I don't have a positive experience to hold onto. It's so emotionally stressful.

Wishing you luck too and am glad to have found someone else that relates - but of course am sorry that you had to go through it!!

 

[Sjf0709]

Sorry to hear the stress you’re going through @Hlouisebaby3 and others. I don’t have any words of wisdom but just wanted to say it was nice to see you back on here @Hlouisebaby3 xx