Ectopic pregnancy

Alternative Names

Ectopic pregnancy

What is Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is an emergency condition that occurs when the embryo implants in one of the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus. Rarely, the embryo can attach to an ovary or other abdominal organs. An ectopic pregnancy is commonly appear within the first few weeks of pregnancy and is usually discovered by the 8th week of pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms

Common symptoms of Ectopic pregnancy may include:

• Light vaginal bleeding
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lower abdominal pain
• Sharp abdominal cramps
• Pain on one side of the body
• Dizziness or weakness
• Pain in the shoulder, neck or rectum

Possible complications

If you have an ectopic pregnancy, the stakes are high. You can lose some reproductive organs or develop infertility as results of treatment. Without treatment, the stakes are even higher. A ruptured fallopian tube can cause life-threatening bleeding.

What causes

If one of the fallopian tubes is damaged, it may not allow the fertilized egg to pass to the uterus causing the egg to implant in the fallopian tube or elsewhere.

Prevention

Unfortunately, there is no definite way to prevent ectopic pregnancy. However, if the mother is suffering from a treatable illness at the time of conception such as a sexually transmitted disease, being treated can improve her chances of having a successful pregnancy.

Treatment

You need emergency surgery to stop the bleeding if your fallopian tube has ruptured. In some cases, the fallopian tube and ovary may be damaged and will have to be removed.

If the fallopian tube has not ruptured and the pregnancy has not progressed very far, laparoscopic surgery may be all that is needed to remove the embryo and repair the damage. A laparoscope is a thin, flexible instrument inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. During this surgery a tiny incision is made in the fallopian tube and the embryo is removed, preserving the integrity of the fallopian tube.

In some cases, medication may be used to stop the growth of pregnancy tissue. This treatment option may be appropriate if the tube is not ruptured and the pregnancy has not progressed very far.

After treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, you will usually have to have additional blood tests to make sure that the entire tubal pregnancy was removed. The blood tests detect the level of HCG, the hormone that is produced during pregnancy.