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Ectopic Pregnancy - Ectopic Pregnancy symptom, treatment, causes

Ectopic Pregnancy means implanting of an embryo outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube (the term 'ectopic' means 'out of place). Implantation elsewhere, such as the cervical canal or the abdominal cavity, is rare. Although there have been a few bizarre reports of an ectopic pregnancy being maintained long enough for a live baby to be delivered by abdominal surgery, the usual outcome is rupture of the pregnancy sac or death of the foetus within the first 3 months after implantation.

An ectopic pregnancy can be very distressing. Not only may there be frightening, severe . sudden symptoms and the need for emergency surgery, or an assortment of worrying baffling symptoms that delay the diagnosis, there is also the disappointment of losing the pregnancy and anxiety about the consequences. If the fallopian tube must be removed ( not always the case - sometimes it can be preservedor repaired) fertility may be reduced, and women who have had an ectopit pregnancy have a higher risk than other women of having another. Nevertheless plenty of women who have had ectopics have later had successful pregnancies. Ask your doctor to explain what happened, what was doneduring surgery, and any future risks.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the pregnancy implants outside of the womb. It is usually caused by a condition that blocks of slows the movement of a fertilized egg through the fallopian tube to the uterus. This may be caused by a physical blockage in the tube. Smoking, advanced maternal age and prior tubal damage of any origin are well shown risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when baby starts to develop outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of pregnancy and is usually discovered by the 8th week of pregnancy. The most common site for an ectopic pregnancy is within a fallopian tube. However, in rare cases, ectopic pregnancies can occur in the ovary, the stomach area, and the cervix. There's no way to transplant an ectopic pregnancy into your uterus, so ending the pregnancy is the only option. In fact, if an ectopic pregnancy isn't recognized and treated, the embryo will grow until the fallopian tube ruptures, resulting in severe abdominal pain and bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy is not usually capable of surviving and in most instances an embryo is not developed. An ectopic pregnancy will spontaneously miscarry. Many factors are known to increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Anything that alters the tubal function may affect further pregnancies.

The majority of ectopic pregnancies are found in the Fallopian tubes. Other sites such as the abdomen, ovary, or cervix are far less common but are associated with higher mortality. It can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms often mirror those of a normal early pregnancy. These can include missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, or frequent urination. The vaginal bleeding can vary from being slight or brown vaginal discharge to being like a normal period. Women who have had successful surgery to reverse tubal sterilization in order to become pregnant also have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy varies, depending on its size and location and whether you want the ability to conceive again. Sometimes, a woman will become pregnant after having her tubes tied. The risk of an ectopic pregnancy due to this procedure may reach 60%. A mini-laparotomy and laparoscopy are the most common surgical treatments for an ectopic pregnancy that has not ruptured. In cases where the doctor does not think a rupture will occur, the woman may be given a medicine called methotrexate is given and monitored. Blood tests and liver function tests may be done.

Symptoms of Pregnancy

When the ectopic sac ruptures suddenly, internal bleeding is often very heavy and associated with severe abdominal and shoulder-tip pain. Blood loss may cause a sudden fall in blood pressure, resulting in pale, cold, clammy skin and fainting. Some sign and symptoms related to Ectopic pregnancy are as follows:

• An overdue period (suggesting pregnancy).
• Bleeding from the vagina.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Nausea.
• Lower abdominal pain.
• Low blood pressure when bleeding is severe.
• Low back pain.

Sometimes the symptoms may be less dramatic because blood leaks more slowly from the ectopic pregnancy, or because the foetus dies without any bleeding from the pregnancy sac. This can lead to an assortment of puzzling symptoms that may include erratic bleeding from the vagina, dizziness or fainting, recurrent abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain and pain with sex. The diagnosis can be particularly difficult in women who do not suspect that they may have been pregnant, as the ectopic pregnancy may result in fewer pregnancy hormones than usual in the blood and often few or no pregnancy symptoms.

Cause of Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is more common in women whose fallopian tubes have been damaged by previous surgery or infection, but often no cause can be found. The common causes and risk factor's of Ectopic pregnancy include the following:

• A condition that blocks of slows the movement of a fertilized egg through the fallopian tube to the uterus.
• Birth defects of the fallopian tubes.
• A physical blockage in the tube.
• Use of fertility medications at the time of conception.
• Past infection in the fallopian tubes.
• Prior history of ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnosis of Pregnancy

Today the use of ultrasound and highly sensitive pregnancy tests makes diagnosis easier. If the pregnancy test is positive and a sub-sequent ultrasound does not show a foetus in the uterus, ectopic pregnancy must be considered (the other possible cause is a complete or incomplete miscarriage between the two tests)

Ectopic pregnancy is one of the few potentially life-threatening complications of pregnancy. and even though it is uncommon (about I in every I5O pregnancies), the possibility must be ruled out in any woman who could be pregnant and who develops irregular vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain or tenderness, a change in pregnancy symptoms, weakness, tiredness, pallor, dizziness or hlinting.

Treament of Pregnancy

Sudden rupture of an ectopic pregnancy is an emergency that usualJy needs immediate surgery to stop the bleeding. Blood transfusion may be necessary to save the mother's life. Even if emergency surgery to stop bleeding is not necessary, the pregnancy must be surgically removed from its ectopic position. Here is list of the methods to treat Ectopic pregnancy:

• If the ectopic pregnancy has not ruptured and is below 3.5 cm in size the drug methotrexate may be used. Methotrexate is given by injection and can be used to induce miscarriage. Methotrexate works by stopping the growth of rapidly dividing cells such as in pregnancy.
• The pregnancy may sometimes be removed using laparoscopy, a less invasive surgical procedure.
• Treatment for shock may include keeping the woman warm, raising her legs, and giving oxygen. Fluids by IV and a blood transfusion may be needed.
• In some cases, removal of the fallopian tube may be necessary.
• A mini-laparotomy and laparoscopy are the most common surgical treatments for an ectopic pregnancy that has not ruptured.