Ectopic Pregnancy
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Most times when a woman becomes pregnant, the egg is fertilized by the sperm in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg moves through the tube to the uterus and implants in the uterine lining. The fetus then starts to grow.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants and grows outside of the uterus. This almost always occurs in the tube (tubal pregnancy). Other places that it can implant are the ovary, the abdomen and the cervix.
It is important to find the ectopic pregnancy before it causes problems. As the fetus grows, it can cause the organ to which it has attached to rupture. This can cause major internal bleeding. It can be life threatening and often needs to be treated with surgery.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants and grows outside of the uterus. This almost always occurs in the tube (tubal pregnancy). Other places that it can implant are the ovary, the abdomen and the cervix.
It is important to find the ectopic pregnancy before it causes problems. As the fetus grows, it can cause the organ to which it has attached to rupture. This can cause major internal bleeding. It can be life threatening and often needs to be treated with surgery.
Risk Factors for an Ectopic Pregnancy
According to The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), about one in 50 pregnancies are ectopic. Any sexually active woman of childbearing age is at risk for ectopic pregnancy. Women who have had damage to their fallopian tubes are at higher risk.
This damage could be the result of:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease. This is an infection of the uterus, tubes and pelvic structures
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Pelvic or abdominal surgery
- Infertility
- Endometriosis
- Sexually transmitted infection
- Surgery on a tube such as tubal sterilization
Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy
The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy can be those of a normal pregnancy. You may have missed periods, nausea and vomiting (morning sickness), breast tenderness, and a positive pregnancy test. Some women may have no symptoms at all and not even know they are pregnant.
If ectopic pregnancy can be found early, it can be treated before the tube ruptures.
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal or pelvic pain. This pain can be sudden, sharp and ache without relief, or it may seem to come and go. It may occur on only one side.
- Shoulder pain. Blood from the ruptured tube can build up under the diaphragm (the area between your chest and stomach). This can cause pain that you might feel in your shoulder
- Weakness, dizziness or fainting due to blood loss
Tests to Determine an Ectopic Pregnancy
In order to confirm that you have an ectopic pregnancy, your doctor will need to perform some tests.
These could include:
- Physical exam to check the size and shape of the uterus
- Ultrasound exam to see if there are signs of pregnancy and where it is located
- Blood testing to check the level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin. This is produced when a woman is pregnant and the level rises at a set rate in a healthy pregnancy.
Treatments for Ectopic Pregnancy
If the ectopic is small and can be found before the tube ruptures, medicine can be given to stop the growth of the pregnancy. The body will absorb the pregnancy and the tube does not need to be removed.
If the pregnancy is larger, surgery will be needed. If your doctor finds that the tube is not ruptured, it may be possible to make a small cut in the tube and remove the pregnancy. If the tube is ruptured, it will most likely have to be removed.
You may be able to become pregnant after an ectopic but you will be at a higher risk to have another one.
You will need time to heal both emotionally and physically before you try again. Many people find this a time when counseling is helpful. Your doctor will guide you as far as when it is safe to attempt pregnancy again.
