Approximately 1 in 100 pregnancies in the UK is ectopic. Unfortunately, ectopic pregnancies often end in miscarriage. However, over time, most women with ectopic pregnancies will have normal pregnancies. This is an early way to identify ectopic pregnancy.
what\’s next
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. In the UK, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy is approximately 1%.
Almost all ectopic pregnancies result from a fertilized egg implanting into a fallopian tube. As the fertilized egg develops, the expectant mother will experience pain and bleeding. If an ectopic pregnancy is not detected, the fallopian tubes will rupture and bleeding will continue. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening and, in rare cases, can lead to death. The embryo of an ectopic pregnancy does not continue to develop because it must be completely removed from the body.
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy appear more than two weeks after a normal menstrual cycle. One of the most common causes of ectopic pregnancy is damage to the fallopian tubes, which are blocked or narrowed, preventing the egg from reaching the uterus and implanting in the walls of the fallopian tubes.
risk factors
The following conditions can easily cause ectopic pregnancy:
Having fallopian tube endometriosis, which increases the risk of scarring and adhesions in the fallopian tubes.
Had abdominal surgery.
Have had pelvic inflammatory disease, a disease that damages the fallopian tubes (about half of ectopic pregnancies have symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease).
Use in vitro fertilization.
Use an intrauterine device (sometimes called an IUD or intrauterine device) or take a small pill.
Smoking.
History of ectopic pregnancy (1% increased chance of ectopic pregnancy symptoms
An ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to recognize because its initial symptoms are very similar to those of menstrual cramps or threatened miscarriage, such as abdominal cramping and light bleeding. Early symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include abnormal vaginal bleeding (some women describe blood like prune juice), and severe, possibly persistent pain on one side of the lower abdomen.
Shoulder pain, where the shoulder meets the arm, may also occur. Shoulder pain occurs when internal bleeding irritates other organs in the body, such as the diaphragm. If the ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed late and the fallopian tube has ruptured, severe pain will appear suddenly and gradually spread to the entire abdomen. You may also begin to sweat, faint, have diarrhea, or have bloody stools. If internal bleeding is severe, shock may result. This situation is very critical and you should call an ambulance immediately or go directly to the hospital.
Aged mother.
symptom
An ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to recognize because its initial symptoms are very similar to those of menstrual cramps or threatened miscarriage, such as abdominal cramping and light bleeding. Early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include abnormal vaginal bleeding (some women describe blood like prune juice), and bleeding on one side of the lower abdomenSevere pain that may persist.
Shoulder pain, where the shoulder meets the arm, may also occur. Shoulder pain occurs when internal bleeding irritates other organs in the body, such as the diaphragm. If the ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed late and the fallopian tube has ruptured, severe pain will appear suddenly and gradually spread to the entire abdomen. You may also begin to sweat, faint, have diarrhea, or have bloody stools. If internal bleeding is severe, shock may result. This situation is very critical and you should call an ambulance immediately or go directly to the hospital.
How to treat
If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, you need to go to the hospital for further examination. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood should be tested. If the hormone levels in the blood are lower than a normal pregnancy, it is an ectopic pregnancy.
Further examination
A transvaginal B-ultrasound is required because an abdominal B-ultrasound may not be able to detect whether it is an ectopic pregnancy. If this test cannot confirm the diagnosis, go to the operating room for a laparoscopy, which involves inserting a tiny camera into the abdomen.
After an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, sometimes the embryo can be removed using laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) without damaging the fallopian tube. But if the fallopian tube has ruptured, doctors usually recommend a complete abdominal surgery because this can stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.
Whether the fallopian tubes and embryos are removed together, or only the embryos are removed to repair the fallopian tubes, depends on the degree of damage to the fallopian tubes, the condition of the other fallopian tube, and whether the patient plans to conceive at the same time. future.
In rare cases, the embryo continues to grow in the treated fallopian tube, requiring treatment with methotrexate (a drug that can terminate pregnancy) or another surgery to remove the embryo.
Methotrexate can sometimes be used instead of surgery to treat an ectopic pregnancy, especially in its early stages. This medication can also be used if there is no bleeding and the fallopian tubes are not damaged.
Sometimes, an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed early, but its exact location is not known, so no treatment is given. This is called \”expectation management.\” The reason for this is that many ectopic pregnancies disappear through spontaneous abortion, with only a quarter of cases requiring surgery.