Research

One of the key things that we believe at the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust is the importance of treatment choice.  When someone is, sadly, diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy we believe that there should be as many options as possible available for treatment and that a woman should have a right to choose which method she thinks will be most suitable for her.

Methotrexate is one such form of treatment where the medicine is injected into the muscle and works to remove folate from the body to stop the ectopic pregnancy cells from dividing.  This method of treatment, as opposed to surgery where the tube is typically removed, preserves the fallopian tube and enables a faster physical recovery time.  The downside of methotrexate is it can have temporary side effects where the lady feels very ill.  Methotrexate sometimes requires a second injection and is successful in 66-95% of cases depending upon the study.

GEM3 Trials

A group of researchers, led by Professor Andrew Horne of the University of Edinburgh, are running the GEM3 trial which is a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial. This trial is seeking to establish whether medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy with the drug methotrexate is more effective when used in combination with the drug gefitinib. The study will be available at up to 50 centres across the UK.

Eligible patients will be offered the opportunity to be randomised to either the gefitinib or the placebo to be used in combination with the methotrexate. This involves taking one tablet a day for 7 days starting from the day the methotrexate is given, which is usually a single injection. Sites are now starting to open across the UK.

Currently open are:

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Fife

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow

Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Forth Valley

Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation trust

Heart Of England NHS Foundation Trust

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Norwich and Norfolk University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Borders General Hospital in Melrose

South Tyneside District Hospital

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

South Tees NHS Foundation Trust

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Directly affected by ectopic pregnancy?

If you have been directly affected by ectopic pregnancy, you are invited to complete our Research Questionnaire. The responses help us to talk to the media, the medico nursing professions and the general public about the experience of those who adjust to a life after ectopic pregnancy. Your contributions are used to guide these powerful agencies, in delivering care and information on the condition to a wider audience.

Complete the Questionnaire

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