One Tube Ladies (PGAL lurkers too please)

mara005 · July 2014

So AF is on it's way and Friday I have my annual exam with my gyno. In January at my post op appointment, I got the RN who seemed to think without a tube I wouldn't even O every month (yeah) and gave me the "plan" of come back when you're KU.
Well now for my own sanity, I need a better plan and my question is: what the hell do I ask for? And if they don't want to help me should I just go to an RE?

Thank you ladies!

alleycat39 · July 2014

I wish I had advice here, but can only offer some (hugs). I hope that the ladies here can offer some solid advice as to what to ask for during your appointment.

zapgurl44 · July 2014

I wish I had some advice, but you should O every month. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that nurse is coo coo. The ovary still does its job it's just that the vessel to get the egg where it needs to go isn't there.

gscoville · July 2014

Hawkward said:

**sig warning**

Ovaries don't necessarily take equal turns ovulating, so it's not possible to say for sure what your body will do. For example, I only have one ovary, but my RE estimated that I ovulate 80% of cycles. Unless there was damage to your ovary, there isn't any reason for it not to ovulate anymore. There is also some evidence to suggest that the remaining fallopian tube may pick up an egg from either ovary because your organs are more squished together than diagrams suggest.

For the nurse to imply you won't ovulate from that ovary anymore is incorrect.

My doctors have never been concerned with the fact that I have only one tube remaining, it only decreases the chance of conception very slightly, for the reasons already mentioned here. If you're temping/charting you'll see if you're ovulating or not, and there's every possibility your egg will be picked up regardless of which ovary it comes from. Ultimately, I guess, I'm just not aware of any specifically different treatments or care to look for related to having one tube, sorry I can't answer that part of your post.

Eliz77 · July 2014

****siggy warning*****

I lost my left tube too and still ovulated each month. My RE told me the opposite tube can pick up the released egg and you still have a chance to conceive in any given cycle, maybe less likely if released from the side without a tube, but as long as you have two functioning ovaries, there is a chance. Guess the nurse missed that piece of info!

As for a plan, I don't know what an o/b can offer, but I can tell you my RE had me do...each cycle, I had blood work on 7dpo for a progesterone check to ensure I ovulated, and then blood work on 14dpo, whether or not AF had shown on time, so that we could be ahead of the game if there was a chance of another EP, and to catch any early losses if they occurred. I would definitely ask how your Dr would monitor you, if it's just a check in when you get a BFP or more. That was our plan for the 1st 3 months. I'm not sure what was going to happen after that, but he said we would have discussed further options-I believe letrozole/IUI, so maybe ask about that option-if a referral to an RE would be the best bet here? My RE felt IVF was a better option for patients with history of EP and losses (plus AMA in my case), but was willing to try other options first.

Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you want.

almostamissus · July 2014

***lurking****

Hey love!
My re and I discussed at length what it would mean to concieve with only one functioning tube. She doesn't believe that it decreases your chances by 50% (as do most doctors) for two reasons: you don't necessarily o on alternating sides each cycle and, like others mentioned, there is a slight chance that your good tube can pick up the egg from the other side.

After getting a second opinion, my re and I decided to go with a clomid cycle- the thought being that I would have a higher chance of releasing an egg on my functioning side. (And you know how that worked for me.)

I wish you luck and love and if there is anytime you need to talk, feel free to pm me.

Eta: I second @mlal78‌ with respect to an hsg and SA before clomid. And also wanted to add that there are a number of ladies on the secondary infertility board with only one tube. And they helped me immensely

chicagojackie · July 2014

**sig warning**

I would seek a second opinion regarding my options with an RE or MFM physician, or at least a second OB. Best of luck to you.

Danielle0311 · July 2014

Lurking**

I have one tube as well and was told it does not effect ovulation at all and also it does not decrease feetility by 50%. My re's plan was clomid to make the eggs release from both sides but upon monitoring he saw I was already ovulating from my good side anyways. One tube isn't a fertility death sentence at all. Good luck!

FmrAFBrat · July 2014

***Lurking*** On the fence about rejoining this board after a second loss. Siggy warning & children mentioned.

I lost my right tube due to an ectopic in October 10, but have had 3 pregnancies since. My two boys and another baby I recently miscarried at 9 weeks.

I have both ovaries and ovulate every month. From what I understand (from my doctor)10-15 percent of the time your opposite tube will pick up your egg. The other thing that happens is that your blood flow to the side you lost changes and over time you will be less likely to ovulate from that side. It's a similar phenomenon to some ladies having their tubes tied and going into menopause. So really your chances aren't cut in half.

FWIW you probably don't need an RE, just monitored cycles, and maybe clomid if your not ovulating on your remaining side. I actually have gotten pregnant more easily with 1 tube than when I had 2.

gscoville · July 2014

FmrAFBrat said:

FWIW you probably don't need an RE, just monitored cycles, and maybe clomid if your not ovulating on your remaining side. I actually have gotten pregnant more easily with 1 tube than when I had 2.

I'm sorry but I can't leave this bit alone. Most OBs don't monitor medicated cycles properly or even at all, so if you're recommending OP see someone for 'monitored' cycles or clomid she needs to know she should definitely be seeing an RE for that kind of thing.

FmrAFBrat · July 2014

gscoville said:

FmrAFBrat said:

FWIW you probably don't need an RE, just monitored cycles, and maybe clomid if your not ovulating on your remaining side. I actually have gotten pregnant more easily with 1 tube than when I had 2.

I'm sorry but I can't leave this bit alone. Most OBs don't monitor medicated cycles properly or even at all, so if you're recommending OP see someone for 'monitored' cycles or clomid she needs to know she should definitely be seeing an RE for that kind of thing.

A lot of OBs will do ultrasounds to see what side you ovulate, when you ovulate, and what the follies look like. Mine also offered monitored clomid cycles as well if I didn't ovulate on the left (my remaining) side. I would never suggest going somewhere where they offer it like candy.

I didn't do any monitoring with my youngest and my miscarriage. I was able to get pregnant with 1 tube 3 times. I do however know from my post op that the remaining tube is normal. If she isn't sure of the condition of her remaining tube she should get a hsg along with finding out what side she ovulates from each month. If there's an issue after several months than she should go to an RE or qualified doctor. I think her nurse is crazy.

mara005 · July 2014

Hey ladies! I know that RN is wrong, I've O'd consistently since. I have a lot to talk to the Doc about (not just ttc related), but thank you so much for all your input!

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