39 and trying to get pregnant after Ectopic pregnancy

[hopefull_abby]

Hello everyone.  I'm 39 years old and I have an 11 year old.  My husband has no children and of course we'd like to have an addition to our family.  Well, I was 4 weeks pregnant and so happy about it when all of a sudden I started feeling sharp pain on my left side.  I was taken to the ER where I was told that I was having an ectopic pregnancy.  My left fallopian tube looked like a pretzel.  My doctor had to remove the left tube.  Now he tells me that I have a perfectly healthy right tube and that my ovaries and uterus are perfectly in tact.  He said we could start trying again in 3 months and I really want to.  My only fear is that I'll have another Ectopic pregnancy and lose any chances of giving my husband a child.  

What are my chances of really getting pregnant again and having a healthy pregnancy with just one tube and with my age factor?

[mlb1234]

I just had an ectopic in July with my tube removed and I am also 39y.  My RE said we could try again ASAP.  There is no sense in wasting cycles at this age.  And since the embryo was in the tube and not in the uterus, the uterine lining should be fine and ready to go.  (I did have a lap surgery though and that could make a difference in recovery)  Also it is technically possible to get pregnant when you ovulate on the side without the tube.  The tubes actually sort of hang back behind the uterus and the eggs can actually go to either one.  Although it may not be likely to happen you can still try regardless of what side you ovulate on.    I also have not gotten AF yet and I am on day 38 post surgery.  Best of luck!!

[hopefull_abby]

Thank you very much for your kind words.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.  I'm just a bit worried because it's been 30 days since my surgery and I haven't gotten my period.

[hopefull_abby]

Thank you for your words of wisdom.  Actually doctors said to wait until I have a regular cycle before starting again, and that the first 3 months I am going to be very fertile.  I guess I misunderstood what he said.  Now my new worry is that it's been 30 days since my Laparoscopy surgery and I still haven't gotten my period.  I've read that many people get it within  3 weeks of their surgery.  :-(

[adgal]

I think it is pretty rare to have 2 etopic in a row.  Yvette pretty much covered all the bases, but I did want to tell you I was sorry for your loss and wish you luck!

[YvetteY]

Ectopic is more than likely not going to happen again, unless you are at high risk for having an ectopic....for example you've had surgery on your tubes.    

Pregnancy resulting in a  "take home baby" is certainly possible, but keep in mind it may take some extra time.

Having one tube practically doubles the time because  you've got to get an egg to come from the ovary that is on the side of the remaining tube....so your chances are unfortunately lessened because of your missing tube.    If you release your egg on the side that is missing the tube it's useless.  I've heard that normally with two ovaries that the egg will release alternately from an ovary each month...not sure if that's true however.

And of course the age factor doesn't help either...and I'm sure you're aware of the difficulties associated with getting pregnant (and sustaining pregnancy) when you're pushing 40 and/or in your 40s.  

But you know it could happen right away...bottom line is mother nature is very unpredictible.   My advice to you is don't expect it to happen right away, be guarded if you do get pregnant (get out of that first trimester), and take it day by day.  

And to be honest because of the age factor maybe you could give mother nature a little boost and meet with an infertility doctor to help you get pregnant.  If it happens right away then it's icing on the cake.

Three months seems quite a while to TTC again, maybe it's because of the surgery.