Ectopic Pregnancy

What is ectopic pregnancy?

In a normal pregnancy, the egg and the sperm meet in the fallopian tube, which is a hollow tube leading from the ovary to the uterus. The fertilized egg moves to the uterus where it attaches itself and eventually grows into a baby. However, in a small percentage of cases the fertilized egg is implanted at a site outside the uterus. Such a pregnancy is called an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies are not viable. They are in fact a serious condition for the mother and must be detected and treated at the earliest.

Sites of ectopic pregnancy:

1. Fallopian tube (tubal pregnancy)
2. Ovaries
3. Cervical
4. And rarely abdominal pregnancy

Out of 100 ectopic pregnancies about 95 are a tubal pregnancy which is the most common type of ectopic pregnancy.

Causes of ectopic pregnancy:

The most common cause of a tubal pregnancy are sexually transmitted Infections like chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Other common causes include:

• Damage to the fallopian tube during surgeries
• Intra uterine devices (IUD)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Previous ectopic pregnancy
• Congenital abnormalities of fallopian tube

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Sharp cramps with lower abdominal pain, mostly one sided lower pelvic pain.
• Dizziness, nausea, vomiting

Diagnosis:

Doctors will do a urine pregnancy test, blood hCG levels, pelvic examination and ultrasound scan to find out the fetal pole. Once ectopic pregnancy is confirmed out they will start appropriate treatment.

Treatment:

Treatment depends upon how early the ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed and associated complications. Nowadays doctors prefer to treat the condition right away to prevent complications.

Medical treatment:

If ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed early before symptoms appear, your doctor might treat it with Methotrexate with follow ups to know blood hCG levels.

Surgical treatment:

If a patient comes with symptoms and without tubal rupture, the doctor would do a laporoscopic surgery. If tubal rupture is present, a laporotomy or open surgery is needed.

After Ectopic Pregnancy:

Thankfully, having an ectopic does not mean that you cannot have a normal pregnancy is future. In fact, most women go on to have normal pregnancy and childbirth. However the chances of recurrent ectopic pregnancy are more in women with a history of ectopic pregnancy hence they need close follow up with a doctor when they conceive.