Understanding Mid-Cycle Bleeding & Pain After Ectopic Pregnancy

Question
Hi...I'm 42 years old and have 2 children. I lost one pregnancy due to ectopic and my tube was removed because of it. My last cycle started on March 8. On March 27, I began light bleeding with ALOT of leftsided pain...very similar to my ectopic. I didn't panic because during that ectopic experience, the ER doctor actually diagnosed me with a corpus luteum cyst instead of ectopic. After about 36 hours all pain was gone, but I still had light bleeding for about 2 days. I've been trying to read all I can on cysts because my symptoms match exactly to that of corpus luteum cyst. And yes...I would LOVE to have one more child before menopause finds me. My husband and I had sexual intercourse about 24 hours prior to the pain starting and also a few days before that. At what point did I actually ovulate (if that was indeed a cyst I was experiencing). We've had unprotected sex for 6 years with no luck conceiving. I'm just trying to figure out my cycle and the timing of ovulation with the pain I was having. The one time I charted my cycle, I ended up with an ectopic pregnancy so I really have no desire to chart again. Thanks for any info you can give me.

Answer
If your last period started on March 8, you probably ovulated on March 21 and could have conceived if you had sex on March 20,21,22, or 23.The bleeding that you had on March 27 may have been implantation bleeding, that usually starts around 8 days following ovulation.The best time to take a pregnancy test is seven days after missing your next period. Your next perod is due on April 4. If the pregnancy test is negative,your are not pregnant (either in your tube or uterus). Until 12 weeks from the first day of your next period, a corpus luteum cyst will maintain the pregnancy until the placenta takes over. Then the corpus luteum cyst disappears. The corpus luteum usually causes pain. A sonogram will visualize whether it is a cyst or not.I would resommend taking a pregnancy test after April 11. Good Luck.