An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. In most cases, the egg implants in a fallopian tube. Very rarely it implants in the ovary, abdomen or cervix. Ectopic pregnancies never result in a successful pregnancy. The egg cannot grow and if not treated properly, a woman's life could be in peril because of internal bleeding.
There are warning signs the Mayo Clinic states that an ectopic pregnancy is progressing:
- light vaginal bleeding
- lower abdominal pain
- pelvic pain and cramping on one side
If an ectopic pregnancy has grown to rupture a fallopian tube, the Mayo Clinic says the symptoms can include:
- a stabbing and sharp pain in the pelvis, abdomen, shoulders and/or neck
- dizziness
- lightheadednesss
If a woman has any of these signs, she should seek care immediately. Diagnosis will be done through a pelvic exam, blood tests and ultrasounds.
Risk Factors
There are some factors that can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. They include:
- a previous ectopic pregnancy
- taking fertility medication while conceiving
- inflammation or infection of reproductive organ
- some sexually transmitted diseases
- endometriosis (tissue that should be lining the uterus is outside the uterus)
- unusually shaped or damaged fallopian tube
- on birth control while conceiving
- after a tubal ligation
Treatment
Once a doctor diagnoses an ectopic pregnancy, there are a few options Mayo Clinic states on how to end the pregnancy.
In cases where the pregnancy is detected early, an injection of methotrexate will be used to stop cell growth and dissolve existing cells. This is the least invasive option and has the fastest recovery time.
If a woman can't use methotrexate or does not respond to methotrexate, laparoscopic surgery may be next in line. This surgery involves making an incision in the abdomen and removing the tissue. The fallopian tube may be damaged and if severe, it may have to be removed.
If a fallopian tube is ruptured or heavy bleeding is occurring, laparotomy surgery may be needed. In most cases, the damaged fallopian tube is removed and methotrexate may also be needed after surgery.
No matter what procedure is done to remove the tissue and cells, blood tests will be continued to evaluate the human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) level. A woman will be able to try to conceive again once her HCG level is zero in most cases.
After an ectopic pregnancy, a woman can go on to have healthy, successful pregnancies even if both fallopian tubes were removed. If both fallopian tubes were removed, a woman can go on to have a pregnancy through in-vitro fertilization. Doctors will continue to keep a close eye on the next pregnancy starting with an internal ultrasound at six weeks to make sure the fetus is developing correctly.
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