Ectopic preganancy through IVF

wendysh96 · 09-01-2009, 08:15 AM

Hello, I was wondering if anybody out there has ever had an ectopic pregnancy through IVF. I'm on my 2nd IVF FET cycle and RE said it looks like I have chemical pg or ectopic pg because my HCG levels are still so low (I'm 3 weeks in) My 1st ET cylce I had chemical pregnancy right away but this 2nd one is lasting longer so was told could be ectopic.
Any comments would help.
Thanks I'm trying to hang in there but not looking good for me. I go in for Ultrasound on Friday to dertermine if ectopic or not.

leftygirl · 09-02-2009, 07:14 PM

Hi,
This just happened to me. We did our first ET on July 25th and I had my betas on August 3rd and 5th. On the 3rd I had a tiny bit of HCG (like 3), and on the 5th it went down to 1.4, so they told me it was negative. After I got my period, I started taking Estrace to get ready for an FET, but started bleeding pretty heavily about 11 days in, so my RE cancelled it and had me come in for an ultrasound to see what the deal was.

Turns out, I was pregnant, but it was ectopic. My HCG was 1500. At first, they thought it was just a failed uterine pregnancy because the chance for an ectopic is like 2%! But the next day, after my HCG went up a little more, they confirmed it was indeed ectopic.

Unfortunatly, it got a little scary. They asked me to come back in the next day (which was this past Saturday) to take the methotrexate shot, which is a medication that stops the embryo from growing in the tube and lets it absorb through the body. But I started experiencing pain (this was Friday) and I went to the hospital. The mass in my tube had grown to 6 cm and the tube was starting to rupture, so I had emergency surgery! They removed the whole tube, which is good I guess, because if a damaged tube is left in the body, the chances for having another ectopic goes up.

This whole experience has been shocking and, of course, traumatic. It's a very rare thing to happen through IVF. But I wanted to tell you my story because you're only 3weeks (I was 7wks), so you are going to be fine! It's probably still very small and I'm sure you are a candidate for the shot which should take care of it. I'm sorry that this happened to you, but I think the silver lining in all of this is that you got pregnant, it just went in the wrong place. Best of luck to you and your husband!

TTCyears · 09-05-2009, 07:32 AM

Wendy, what did the u/s reveal? From what I've read, sometimes an ectopic is visible with HCG <500, but technically a uterine pg is ruled out when HCG is 1,000 to 1,500 (for a singleton). I came in with HCG 124 at 5 weeks - low, but doubling. As I mentioned in a separate post, my HCG was 1,504 with no uterine pg, the nurse scheduled me out a week instead of two days and, well, bad news. HCG was then near 6,000; I received the MTX shot, but too late for me.

leftygirl, wow, I was just reading this week about ectopic pgs with negative serum hCG. How many embryos were transferred in your case? I wonder if a uterine pg was the declining HCG and the ectopic hadn't "taken off" yet? My ectopic wasn't detected until near 5 weeks (numbers above). For this biochemical pg my HCG just went down to 7. I will take another test next week to confirm it is 0. However, I will keep your post in mind if I have any unusual symptoms. I'm watching my BBT like a hawk, that's what alerted me last time - my BBT jumped up after my period ended.

This reproductive stuff is not for the feint of heart.

wendysh96 · 09-05-2009, 08:37 AM

Well my u/s reavealed that I don't have ectopic and not a chemical pg either as re seen a sac in uterus but with no heartbeat as I was techinically 6 1/2 weeks pg (I know I stated 3 weeks but that's when first blood test was and all the emotions started for me) where if normal pg would have heartbeat and been bigger, but was so small that they said I had a "spontaneous miscarriage" so re did D&C which is where re removes the sac from me so that I don't have to wait to miscarry on my own as who knows when it would happen and it's healthier for me in long run too. I was all for it as I just want to move on from this one and look towards the future. So now the re is suggesting doing further tests before we go ahead with my next cycle just incase my body is rejecting it for some reason....or I'm just hoping maybe my first two were just flukes and the 3rd one will work out just fine. But I am going to get the the Immune blood test which will determine if my immune system is for some reason attacking the embryo and then we'll go from there.
I thank you both for comments and I hope the best for both of you.

TTCyears · 09-05-2009, 09:19 AM

Wendy, I am sorry for your loss.

I will be asking my RE next week what more testing I can have done. I've had most immune tests (e.g. ANA), but not all (e.g. NKa).

Yes, wishing us all well.
~S

leftygirl · 09-05-2009, 11:36 AM

TTC-
I transferred 2 embryos. And, yes, keep checking that BBT, that's a great indicator. Also, for me, I had really bad cramping, but unlike typical period cramps-more like intense lower back pain. Sounds like you've really been through it, but how wonderful that you and your hubby are going to become foster parents!! That is truly amazing!

Wendy-
I'm so sorry for your loss. This process can be so brutal. But I send you good energy from Los Angeles and I think 3rd time's a charm for you!

09-01-2009, 08:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
wendysh96 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 18	Ectopic preganancy through IVF Hello, I was wondering if anybody out there has ever had an ectopic pregnancy through IVF. I'm on my 2nd IVF FET cycle and RE said it looks like I have chemical pg or ectopic pg because my HCG levels are still so low (I'm 3 weeks in) My 1st ET cylce I had chemical pregnancy right away but this 2nd one is lasting longer so was told could be ectopic. Any comments would help. Thanks I'm trying to hang in there but not looking good for me. I go in for Ultrasound on Friday to dertermine if ectopic or not.

09-05-2009, 09:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
TTCyears 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 239	Wendy, I am sorry for your loss. I will be asking my RE next week what more testing I can have done. I've had most immune tests (e.g. ANA), but not all (e.g. NKa). Yes, wishing us all well. ~S __________________ Sharon (37), DH (40) Unexplained Primary IF & RPL TTC May-2003 Aug-2004, mc 11w4d (or 7w4d?) Dec-2004, mc 7w0d Clomid/IUI, Dec-2006, BFN Jun-2007, mc 5w5d Jul-2008, ep rupture 9w0d (tube lost, life saved ... barely) Foster care classes complete Aug-2009 Sep-2009, mc 6w1d Foster care home study interviews completed... IVF planned 2010...

VISIT OUR SISTER SITES:
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar	eHarmony Advice Dating Advice	Project Wedding Wedding Songs	Weddingbee Wedding Blog

Currently Active Chat Room Users: 0 \| Scheduled Chat Room Events
	Users in Chat Rooms: No one's chatting right now!

09-02-2009, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
leftygirl 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: los angeles Posts: 16	Hi, This just happened to me. We did our first ET on July 25th and I had my betas on August 3rd and 5th. On the 3rd I had a tiny bit of HCG (like 3), and on the 5th it went down to 1.4, so they told me it was negative. After I got my period, I started taking Estrace to get ready for an FET, but started bleeding pretty heavily about 11 days in, so my RE cancelled it and had me come in for an ultrasound to see what the deal was. Turns out, I was pregnant, but it was ectopic. My HCG was 1500. At first, they thought it was just a failed uterine pregnancy because the chance for an ectopic is like 2%! But the next day, after my HCG went up a little more, they confirmed it was indeed ectopic. Unfortunatly, it got a little scary. They asked me to come back in the next day (which was this past Saturday) to take the methotrexate shot, which is a medication that stops the embryo from growing in the tube and lets it absorb through the body. But I started experiencing pain (this was Friday) and I went to the hospital. The mass in my tube had grown to 6 cm and the tube was starting to rupture, so I had emergency surgery! They removed the whole tube, which is good I guess, because if a damaged tube is left in the body, the chances for having another ectopic goes up. This whole experience has been shocking and, of course, traumatic. It's a very rare thing to happen through IVF. But I wanted to tell you my story because you're only 3weeks (I was 7wks), so you are going to be fine! It's probably still very small and I'm sure you are a candidate for the shot which should take care of it. I'm sorry that this happened to you, but I think the silver lining in all of this is that you got pregnant, it just went in the wrong place. Best of luck to you and your husband!

09-05-2009, 07:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
TTCyears 200-299 post 4 of hearts Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 239	Wendy, what did the u/s reveal? From what I've read, sometimes an ectopic is visible with HCG <500, but technically a uterine pg is ruled out when HCG is 1,000 to 1,500 (for a singleton). I came in with HCG 124 at 5 weeks - low, but doubling. As I mentioned in a separate post, my HCG was 1,504 with no uterine pg, the nurse scheduled me out a week instead of two days and, well, bad news. HCG was then near 6,000; I received the MTX shot, but too late for me. leftygirl, wow, I was just reading this week about ectopic pgs with negative serum hCG. How many embryos were transferred in your case? I wonder if a uterine pg was the declining HCG and the ectopic hadn't "taken off" yet? My ectopic wasn't detected until near 5 weeks (numbers above). For this biochemical pg my HCG just went down to 7. I will take another test next week to confirm it is 0. However, I will keep your post in mind if I have any unusual symptoms. I'm watching my BBT like a hawk, that's what alerted me last time - my BBT jumped up after my period ended. This reproductive stuff is not for the feint of heart.

09-05-2009, 08:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
wendysh96 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 18	Well my u/s reavealed that I don't have ectopic and not a chemical pg either as re seen a sac in uterus but with no heartbeat as I was techinically 6 1/2 weeks pg (I know I stated 3 weeks but that's when first blood test was and all the emotions started for me) where if normal pg would have heartbeat and been bigger, but was so small that they said I had a "spontaneous miscarriage" so re did D&C which is where re removes the sac from me so that I don't have to wait to miscarry on my own as who knows when it would happen and it's healthier for me in long run too. I was all for it as I just want to move on from this one and look towards the future. So now the re is suggesting doing further tests before we go ahead with my next cycle just incase my body is rejecting it for some reason....or I'm just hoping maybe my first two were just flukes and the 3rd one will work out just fine. But I am going to get the the Immune blood test which will determine if my immune system is for some reason attacking the embryo and then we'll go from there. I thank you both for comments and I hope the best for both of you.

09-05-2009, 11:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
leftygirl 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: los angeles Posts: 16	TTC- I transferred 2 embryos. And, yes, keep checking that BBT, that's a great indicator. Also, for me, I had really bad cramping, but unlike typical period cramps-more like intense lower back pain. Sounds like you've really been through it, but how wonderful that you and your hubby are going to become foster parents!! That is truly amazing! Wendy- I'm so sorry for your loss. This process can be so brutal. But I send you good energy from Los Angeles and I think 3rd time's a charm for you!