An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy develops outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.
Below are 15 things you should know about ectopic pregnancy:
1. All sexually active women are at some risk for ectopic pregnancy. Risk factors increase with any of the following: maternal age of 35 years or older, history of pelvic surgery, abdominal surgery, or multiple abortions.
2. What causes an ectopic pregnancy? Usually, an ectopic pregnancy happens because the fertilized egg wasn’t able to move down the fallopian tube quickly enough. An infection or inflammation in the tube can cause it to be partially or completely blocked. This is commonly caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
3. Unfortunately, this condition is fatal for the fetus. It cannot survive outside of the uterus. Quick treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is important to protect the mother’s life. If the egg has implanted in the fallopian tube and the tube bursts, there can be severe internal bleeding.
4. Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually develop between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. Some women don’t have any symptoms at first. They may not find out they have the condition until an early scan shows the problem or they develop more serious symptoms later on.
5. Most women who have had this medical condition will be able to get pregnant again, even if they’ve had a fallopian tube removed. Overall, 65% of women achieve a successful pregnancy within 18 months of an ectopic pregnancy. Occasionally, it may be necessary to use fertility treatment such as IVF.
6. There might be pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder or neck (if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves). The pain can range from mild and dull to severe and sharp. It might be felt on just one side of the pelvis or all over. This is what an ectopic pregnancy pain is like.
7. There is no way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy, but you can lower your risk by using condoms when you have sex (before you try to conceive) to help prevent sexually transmitted infections and reduce the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. You can also stop smoking, if you smoke.
8. An ectopic pregnancy can cause your fallopian tube to burst open. Without treatment, the ruptured tube can lead to life-threatening bleeding.
9. Stress is another factor that can cause this health condition. Stress hormone affects the quality of the egg and can lead to its slow movement. There are chances of egg getting stuck to the tubal wall.
10. How long can it go unnoticed? If it’s not picked up in a scan, an ectopic pregnancy can go unnoticed for the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, until the fertilized egg is large enough to cause significant pain. However, it usually creates symptoms earlier than this.
11. Risk of this medical condition increases steadily with age, with mums over 40 having the highest risk. Women who have had two or more elective abortions may have a slightly increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy, although the research on this is inconclusive.
12. It is possible for an early ectopic pregnancy to end in miscarriage on its own. However, in most cases it does not, and medical intervention is needed. To treat this condition, the doctor will recommend either a surgical procedure or a medication called methotrexate.
13. You may ask if ectopic pregnancy worse than a miscarriage? Both ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages can involve a significant amount of pain and bleeding. Miscarriages are not usually life-threatening but rarely complications can occur. Many of the signs of an impending miscarriage are the same for ectopic pregnancy rupture.
14. An early ectopic pregnancy without unstable bleeding is most often treated with a medication called methotrexate, which stops cell growth and dissolves existing cells. The medication is given by injection. It’s very important that the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is certain before receiving this treatment. This is how to get rid of ectopic pregnancy without surgery.
15. While there is no clear, researched evidence on how long a couple should wait to try to conceive after having treatment for this medical condition, medical professionals advise that it may be best to wait for at least three months or two full menstrual cycles before trying to conceive.