Ectopic pregnancy: How long does it take to get pregnant with methotrexate?

Fertilization occurs in the outer third of the fallopian tube, resulting in a zygote and the zygote will move to implant in the uterus. However, for some reason, the zygote does not enter the uterus but is located in other places outside the uterus, this is called an ectopic pregnancy. This is an obstetric emergency that, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, can have serious, even life-threatening consequences. One of the most commonly used treatments today is an injection of methotrexate to terminate a pregnancy. However, many pregnant women still wonder how long it takes to get pregnant by injecting methotrexate? Let's learn the basics of methotrexate injection with Vinmec to terminate pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy is a phenomenon that after fertilization, the egg does not implant in the uterus, but develops outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube with more than 90%, other locations such as the cervix. , ovaries, abdominal cavity, pelvis, ... can also be encountered. When not properly developed, the fetus will regress or may grow but rupture causing massive bleeding. If not detected early and diagnosed in time, ectopic pregnancy can cause fainting, shock and blood loss due to fetal rupture.
For an ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube, if not timely intervention will progress in the following directions:
Fallopian tube rupture causing massive bleeding: the size of the fallopian tube is not large enough to accommodate The embryo is getting bigger and bigger, so the fallopian tube dilates until it ruptures, causing massive bleeding into the abdomen. This is an obstetric emergency that can be life-threatening if not operated on in time. The fetus stops growing: when implanting in the fallopian tube, the fetus does not receive enough nutrients through the placenta. Therefore, over a period of time, the fetus will stop growing on its own. Although this condition is not as dangerous as a ruptured fallopian tube, women need to closely monitor their health until the pregnancy shows signs of complete cessation of development. Pregnancy through the fallopian tube into the abdomen: when the pregnancy mass implants in the fallopian tube, it is easy to detach, causing miscarriage and bleeding into the abdomen. Similar to a ruptured fallopian tube, this condition can be life-threatening due to massive bleeding.

According to statistics of medical experts, the rate of ectopic pregnancy accounts for 4-5% of all pregnancies. It is also one of the main causes of maternal mortality in the first trimester (about 10%). Pregnancy is a difficult and difficult journey, many women who are about to become pregnant have anxiety and confusion when facing possible dangers during pregnancy. Therefore, what causes a pregnant woman to have an ectopic pregnancy is of great interest to women.
Common causes of ectopic pregnancy:
Abnormalities in the fallopian tubes: can be caused by many causes such as narrowing of the fallopian tubes after tubal shaping, repeated abortion causing inflammation, pelvic inflammatory disease, Fallopian tube constriction, fallopian tube narrowing due to tumor, history of ectopic pregnancy, ... Unintended pregnancy after IUD insertion, 5% encounter ectopic pregnancy. Women with sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, genital warts, ...) have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. Infertility Multiple sex partners Use of fertility treatments Smoking Smoking Age: women over 35 have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Depending on each specific case, the doctor will choose the appropriate method to treat an ectopic pregnancy. There are 2 main methods: medication (mainly methotrexate injection to terminate the pregnancy) and surgical removal.
Surgery: this method preserves as much of the organs as possible to restore the most natural fertility, only the irreversible damage is removed. Use of drugs: methotrexate injection for abortion (MTX) is indicated for abortion in cases where the patient is hemodynamically stable, there are no signs of bleeding, the fetal mass is less than 3.5cm on ultrasound, there is no fetal heart, blood βhCG levels below 5000 – 10000 mIU/mL.

Methotrexate injection for abortion is a medical treatment commonly used to treat ectopic pregnancy. Methotrexate's mechanism of action is to prevent cell division and thereby terminate pregnancy. The advantage of this method is that it has a high success rate (90%), maximizes fertility, limits surgery and complications, and patients can be monitored at home. However, methotrexate also has some disadvantages such as long follow-up from 2 to 6 weeks, side effects of the drug such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, diarrhea, ..., need to monitor the concentration. βhCG.
So how long does it take to get pregnant when injecting methotrexate? After injection of methotrexate, the fetal mass stops growing and is absorbed by the body within 4-6 weeks. Patients will be monitored βhCG levels on the 4th and 7th day after injection. If the level of βhCG on day 7 decreases by at least 15% compared to day 4, it is considered successful.
Some unwanted reactions may be encountered during methotrexate injection to terminate pregnancy such as: fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, ... However, when encountered If you have unusual symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, fainting, ... you must immediately go to the doctor.
Many patients when injecting methotrexate to terminate pregnancy often wonder how long does it take to bleed? Usually, when injecting methotrexate from 1-3 days, the fetus will detach from the attachment site. This condition lasts for 1-2 days. Along with that, the concentration of βhCG in the blood increased in the first 4 days, accompanied by vaginal bleeding.

While injecting methotrexate, you need to be careful to avoid the following:
Vigorous exercise Sex: stop having sex until your period returns Drinking alcohol: alcohol increases the unwanted effects of methotrexate Using foods rich in folic acid such as dark green vegetables, orange juice: reduces the effectiveness of methotrexate. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen: these interact with methotrexate Direct exposure to sunlight: methotrexate increases your sensitivity to sunlight causing your skin to darken. In addition, you need to use birth control for 3-6 months. As such, methotrexate is a safe and effective treatment for ectopic pregnancy. The above article has given you an overview of this method and answered the concerns of many women such as how long does it take to get pregnant with methotrexate injection or how long does it take to bleed?