QuestionHello Brigid,
I got married in April and since then my husband and I have been using NFP, which has been successful for us. I got pregnant in October but at 5 weeks, was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy on Nov.4. I was treated with methotrexate, although I had already been miscarrying at that point. My doctor said that I have to wait 6 months before trying to conceive again (due to the medication) and cannot have relations without contraception (which for me, is not an option). On Dec. 6, I had my first period and I have started charting again. Could you tell me if NFP methods would be reliable at this point or could my cycle still be irregular? If so, when can I start using NFP again?
Thank you.
Sarah
AnswerDear Sarah: I'm very sorry for your loss. I hope all goes well for you the next time.
I'd never heard about using this drug for an ectopic but I read up on it and it sounds reasonable, especially if it avoids surgery which has so many other risks.
I gather that the drug affects your folic acid levels and that from the pregnancy, your HCG remains elevated and that those are the two issues that doctors are concerned about. This is what what woman found out:
Hi
sorry for everyone's loss but I have some great information in regard to the waiting time for methotrexate. I had an ectopic in November last year and was given 2 shots of metho. Basically I did so much research on forums like these (very helpful info) and the metho injection strips your folic acid therefore 3 months for 1 injection and 6 months for 2. Well me being impatient wanting to try again found out you can go to your GP and ask for a Full Blood Count including white and red cells as well as a blood test to check your folic acid..... I was so excited to find out that 2 months and 2 weeks my bloods were back to normal and I have been given the green light to start again. I will wait till May though (6 months) as I booked a holiday to Hawaii then and I would like to try surfing. Good Luck to everyone trying again and get your blood tests (your body is an amazing thing and heals quite quickly)
Now, I'm just surmising here but I would think that if your HCG levels were up so would your temperatures when you are charting. But you said you've already had a period, so that shouldn't be the case. I guess you can assume that the HCG is back to pre-pregnancy levels. So, if you can get those blood tests that the woman above mentioned and find out about your folic acid levels, you might not have to wait a full 6 months.
By charting, you will have a wealth of information that you can give to your doctor when you see him about your fertility signs.
Especially compare them to before you got pregnant and show him that there is a similar pattern (if there is). I don't see why using NFP as you were before you got pregnant wouldn't be just as effective now.
There will always be challenges to observing your fertility signs and the more experience you have the better you will be able to read them. After the baby comes and when you are nursing are two other scenarios that you will come across and then during menopause. All of these times present no impossibilities to women using NFP but doctors always wave their hands and say "use a condom" and we know how unreliable they are! NFP is much more reliable in the hands of a practiced woman such as yourself.
So, go for it and let me know what you find out. Blessings and Merry Christmas. Brigid
