The newly fertilized egg then travels along the fallopian tube toward the uterus, where it can implant and develop until birth.
In some cases, however, complications may cause the egg to implant in areas other than the uterine lining. Such an occurrence is known as an extra-uterine or ectopic pregnancy. Although the majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, they can also develop in the abdomen, ovaries, or the cervix.
If the pregnancy continues without intervention, it could cause the fallopian tube to rupture, resulting in life-threatening intra-abdominal bleeding. Because of this risk, an ectopic pregnancy is considered a medical emergency, and immediate medical attention is required. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.
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Common Health Topics. Complications of Pregnancy. Test your knowledge. Maternal infections that develop after the delivery of a baby usually begin in the uterus. The likelihood of developing a uterine infection is increased with which of the following types of delivery? More Content. Ectopic Pregnancy By Antonette T. Click here for the Professional Version. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fetus cannot survive. A disorder of the fallopian tubes. Ectopic Pregnancy: A Mislocated Pregnancy Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and becomes implanted in the uterus.
A pregnancy test. An ectopic pregnancy must be ended as soon as possible to save the life of the woman. Was This Page Helpful? Yes No. Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Ectopic Pregnancy.
Pelvic Pain During Early Pregnancy. Vaginal Bleeding During Early Pregnancy. Linear salpingostomy: This is a more conservative approach, involving a surgical incision into a fallopian tube, which aims to remove the ectopic pregnancy without removing the tube.
This is normally recommended for people who have an unruptured ectopic pregnancy in the ampullary middle portion of the tube. This may also be chosen if the person only has one tube, or their other tube does not seem to be healthy.
It carries a higher risk of future ectopic pregnancy and persistent ectopic pregnancy, but still leaves the possibility of a future uterine pregnancy. However, salpingostomy is not always possible. Laparoscopy: This is keyhole surgery involving minimal incisions. Recovery is about two to four weeks, though this varies from person to person. Laparotomy: This is open surgery, which is used if severe internal bleeding is suspected.
It involves a larger incision in the lower abdomen. Recovery is about four to six weeks, though this varies from person to person. An ectopic pregnancy may rupture the fallopian tube, leading to heavy bleeding, which can cause serious medical problems and may, occasionally, be life-threatening.
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy requires emergency, life-saving surgery. Symptoms of a rupture include: [1]. There are some possible, but very rare complications after surgery, as well as side effects from taking methotrexate. A doctor will discuss these with the person affected by ectopic pregnancy, before commencing treatment. A persistent ectopic pregnancy may occur, in which some ectopic cells are left behind and continue to grow, or further ectopic pregnancies occur.
If there is no history of diseases of the fallopian tubes, the chances of having another ectopic pregnancy may not be much higher than in a person who has not previously had an ectopic pregnancy. If a person has some of the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, as listed above, then the risk of problems in the future increases. Most women will make a full recovery from ectopic pregnancy and will be able to conceive normally in future.
Rarely, fertility may be affected, especially in the case of ruptured ectopic pregnancy or if a fallopian tube is removed in treatment. If treatment has involved any kind of surgery, the risk of fertility problems is higher than if medical treatment or no treatment was needed. It is normal to feel distressed after an ectopic pregnancy. It can mean coming to terms with the loss of a baby, with a potential impact on future fertility or, for some, with the thought of having nearly lost their life.
In some people, these emotions can develop into depression and anxiety if left untreated. According to the Miscarriage Association, a person with ectopic pregnancy may be emotionally affected in a variety of ways, including: [15]. Shock: A person may experience shock about the diagnosis, especially in cases where there has been emergency surgery or about what might have happened without diagnosis.
Counseling is available for people affected by an ectopic pregnancy. Support groups are also available and may be able to put a person in touch with others in a similar situation. A health professional will be able to provide advice on choosing the most appropriate kind of support for a person, couple or family who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Q: How common is ectopic pregnancy? A: About one in 50 pregnancies are ectopic.
Some ectopic pregnancies will resolve before they produce symptoms. Q: Can a person have an ectopic pregnancy with a copper coil IUD? A: IUDs ensure a very low risk of any pregnancy, either intrauterine or ectopic.
Q: Can a person have an ectopic pregnancy with IVF? A: Yes, in vitro fertilization puts a person at higher risk of ectopic pregnancy. It may increase the occurrence of unusual types of ectopic pregnancies, such as heterotopic pregnancy, in which there is simultaneous intrauterine and tubal pregnancies, and interstitial pregnancy, which occurs in the part of the fallopian tube embedded in the uterus wall.
Q: Is it possible to miscarry an ectopic pregnancy? A: In the very early stages, the fetus may pass out of the cervix on its own, without the need for further treatment. This may result in some symptoms of miscarriage being present. As the fetus develops, it becomes less likely that it will pass out of the womb on its own, and medical or surgical management will be needed to remove it.
However, the techniques used to treat ectopic pregnancy may differ from those used to treat incomplete miscarriage. See this resource on miscarriage for more information.
Q: Is prevention of ectopic pregnancy possible? A: Preventing ectopic pregnancy is not normally possible. Adequate use of contraceptives significantly reduces the risk of ectopic pregnancy. A person may be able to prevent a tubal pregnancy in the fallopian tube, if things that scar the tube, such as smoking and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases STDs , can be avoided. In some cases of ectopic pregnancy, a person may have surgery to remove the tube containing the ectopic pregnancy, which will reduce the risk of further ectopic pregnancies or persistent ectopic pregnancy.
This occurs if some ectopic cells are left behind and continue to grow, or if there are subsequent ectopic pregnancies. Accessed 27 April Accessed 26 April The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. Accessed 15 May The Miscarriage Association. NHS Choices. Medscape eMedicine.
Manchester University. This website meets the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. What is an ectopic pregnancy? Symptoms If symptoms of ectopic pregnancy occur, they typically appear early on in the pregnancy, sometimes before a person realizes they are pregnant. Early signs of ectopic pregnancy The most common early signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include: [2] [3] [4] Lower stomach pain.
Ectopic pregnancy pain is often located on one side of the body Vaginal bleeding, which may be dark, watery and heavier, lighter or more prolonged than a normal period Pregnancy symptoms such as a missed menstrual period, breast tenderness, frequent urination or nausea However, it is possible to have an ectopic pregnancy without any of the above symptoms.
Other signs of ectopic pregnancy Less common symptoms include: Bowel and bladder problems, such as diarrhea, and pain when defecating or urinating A feeling of fullness when lying down that is not associated with eating, particularly in people who have already had a child Back pain It is possible to have an ectopic pregnancy without experiencing any symptoms until rupture of the fallopian tube or close organs.
Sometimes, ectopic pregnancies result in miscarriages, but more often, the fallopian tube where the fetus is implanted stretches and becomes inflamed and extremely painful. Most cases of ectopic pregnancy require emergency medical treatment because the growing fetus can cause the fallopian tube to rupture and as a result, massive internal bleeding can occur. In developed, high-income countries where emergency health care is easily accessible, severe injury or death is rare.
Prior to the age of modern medicine and even today in countries where safe diagnostic and surgical techniques are unavailable, ectopic pregnancy can result in maternal death in more than 50 percent of cases.
When women can access the right healthcare, risk for death drops to less than five in 10, pregnancies. Accurate statistics for maternal outcomes in developing countries are difficult to come by.
Can mom get pregnant again? Many women can get pregnant again and go on to deliver healthy babies, but it depends on what caused her ectopic pregnancy in the first place, how much abdominal damage occurred, whether she still has a remaining fallopian tube and her willingness to risk having another complication. When a woman has had one ectopic pregnancy, she has a 15 percent chance of having another. What happened to our friends? Jennifer Pastiloff, writer, yoga retreat leader and founder of the Manifest Station , experienced pain and bleeding shortly after discovering she was pregnant last year.
She had known from the start that something was wrong and when her doctor diagnosed her pregnancy as ectopic, she was successfully, but painfully treated with methotrexate. Jennifer wrote an eloquent essay for The Rumpus about hopping on a plane to lead a yoga retreat shortly after receiving the injection. When the pain became too intense for her to continue teaching, she went to the emergency room for pain medication and reassurance that everything would be all right.
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