Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg attaches somewhere outside of the uterus, particularly in the fallopian tubes.
Ectopic pregnancies can be treated with laparoscopic surgery or medical injections to end the pregnancy, as it cannot result in a child.
An ectopic pregnancy results in the rupture leading to blood loss and may be life-threatening. Women with abnormal fallopian tubes have an increased risk for an ectopic pregnancy.
With early monitoring, most women’s ectopic pregnancies can be detected and treated early providing better chances of a future successful pregnancy.
What does an ectopic pregnancy mean?
The ectopic pregnancy, also known as a tubal pregnancy, where the embryo (fertilized egg) attaches outside of the uterus rather than inside as in the normal pregnancy.
In a normal pregnancy, an embryo moves through the fallopian tube from the ovary and into its uterus. Then it attaches to the uterine lining where it continues to grow for nine months. As the movement through the fallopian tube is blocked for a few days after the embryo forms, it implants there.
The ectopic pregnancy happens in the fallopian tubes, but it can also occur in the ovary, abdomen, or cervix. Based on the National Institutes of Health, 2 percent of all pregnancies are resulted as ectopic.
Without the uterine tissue for fostering embryonic growth, the embryo cannot survive, so an ectopic pregnancy should be ended by medical or surgical intervention to avoid the destruction of other reproductive body parts.
The major health risk of an ectopic pregnancy results in the rupture of a fallopian tube that leads to internal bleeding, causing the woman in a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.
An ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed within the first few weeks of a pregnancy when they are scheduled for the ultrasound or a pelvic exam.
When an ectopic pregnancy has been confirmed, the gynaecologist works with the patient to decide on the best treatment plan.
Women carry limited number of eggs and with the progressing reproductive years, the eggs lacks in quality and number. This decreases the chances of having baby by 3%-5% after the age of 30. The reduction in fertility is found to extend after the age of 40.
Reasons for an ectopic pregnancy
Some factors increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy
- The unsuccessful tubal ligation or tubal ligation reversal.
- Imbalances of hormones or an abnormal embryo development.
- History of endometriosis, an ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Scarred reproductive organs from infection or gonorrhoea
- History of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
- Smoking.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy
Most of the ectopic pregnancies occur within the first few weeks of a pregnancy, sometimes before a woman knows about her pregnancy. A woman may experience pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Spotting or vaginal bleeding.
- Have shoulder pain or experiencing pain on one side of the body.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Dizziness or fainting spells.
The main reason for the poor outcome from treatment is failing to seek early medical attention. When a patient is experiencing any of these symptoms and knows she is pregnant, try to seek immediate medical attention from a physician. Early treatment helps to preserve the chance for future healthy pregnancies.
