Ectopic Pregnancy - A Better Understanding of Causes, Symptoms & Treatments


WHAT IS AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY?  

The dictionary meaning of the term ‘Ectopic’ is an organ or bodily component living in an unusual location or shape.  In basic words, an ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy, which is growing in the incorrect location.  

An ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg (or ovum) fails to migrate down the fallopian tube and into the womb (or uterus) in the typical way.  Instead, the egg or ovum implants itself outside of the womb.  

Most typically, (in 95% of instances), ectopic pregnancies originate in a fallopian tube and rarely, elsewhere in the abdominal cavity or pelvic region.  

For example, an egg may attach itself on an ovary, on the neck of the womb (cervix) or on another organ inside the pelvic or abdominal region (1.5% abdominal, 0.5% ovarian & 0.03% cervical).  

Ectopic pregnancies do not generally survive and many will end in a natural miscarriage, others may develop until a significant condition becomes evident, which will need prompt medical intervention. 


WHAT CAUSES AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY?

Sometimes the ovum fails to deposit itself and it gets fertilised outside of the reproductive system.  More typically, the fertilised ovum is stuck, in the fallopian tube and the baby continues to develop within the tube where it might cause the tube to rupture or otherwise badly harm it.  A ruptured tube is life threatening and needs immediate medical intervention

In many circumstances, ectopic pregnancies arise when the expecting woman has damaged fallopian tube(s).  

Tubes injured, by infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease or by prior surgery, scar tissue, endometriosis or previous ectopic pregnancies are a high-risk factor, which greatly, enhance the probability of a pregnancy becoming ectopic.  

Another risk factor related with ectopic pregnancies is getting pregnant, when using a contraceptive-coil or a progestogen only contraceptive tablet.  

Pregnancies arising from in vitro fertilisation (i.e. test-tube procedures) may be ectopic - even though, the fertilised egg is delivered directly into the womb, it may nevertheless attach itself elsewhere.  In certain circumstances, none of the following risk factors are present in the expecting mother.


WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS OF AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY?

  • Discomfort In the Abdomen
The initial indication of an ectopic pregnancy might be a discomfort on one side of the abdomen.  This discomfort might be persistent and strong and its onset, quick.  

  • Discomfort in the Shoulder 
An alternate warning sign might be a discomfort in the shoulder, which worsens while breathing in and out. 

  • Discomfort Using the Lavatory
 If you believe you are pregnant and have discomfort during trips to the lavatory you should tell this to your medical practitioner. 


Other Warning Signs

  1. Vaginal bleeding or atypical periods, lighter or heavier than normal, or a peculiar tint etc
  2. Sickness
  3. Diarrhoea
  4. Pallid complexion (paleness) 
  5. Light-headedness 
  6. Collapse
  7. Increasing pulse rate 
  8. Falling blood pressure


DIAGNOSING AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY 

Ectopic pregnancies may be hard to identify since in many situations, the symptoms are no different from those of a normal, early pregnancy, i.e. sensitive breasts, nausea, vomiting, missing periods or frequent urine.  

If you are a sexually active woman of childbearing age and you have symptoms of an early pregnancy plus any, of the following warning indications, of an ectopic pregnancy, call your medical practitioner immediately. 

A urine pregnancy test will typically be positive but is not always obvious.  However, a specialist hCG blood test will always show a positive result.  

If a pregnancy is ectopic, the womb will frequently be smaller than the usual womb at that time of pregnancy and this will be identified via an internal pelvic examination.  

A doctor might occasionally notice a bulge, during an inside examination, which is proof of an ectopic pregnancy occurring.  

An ultrasound scan will identify between a probable miscarriage, a normal pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy.  

The majority of women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy will need surgical intervention and/or medication.  In the worst-case situation, without this intervention, an ectopic pregnancy may be deadly to the mother.  

Medical and technical improvements ensure that ectopic pregnancies are simpler to diagnose than ever before and consequently, they entail less danger than they did in earlier years.  

Technological breakthroughs have substantially improved the treatment of ectopic pregnancies - keyhole surgery is only one example of this.  

It is crucial to obtain the advice of a medical practitioner if you feel you are carrying an ectopic pregnancy.


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