| Specifying the problem
In a normal pregnancy, an impregnated egg travels through a fallopian tube to the womb. The egg attaches to the womb and starts to grow. But in an ectopic pregnancy (also known as an extrauterine pregnancy), an impregnated egg implants in another organ but not the womb, most often in an oviduct. An extrauterine pregnancy is often triggered by damage to the salpinges. An impregnated egg can have difficulty in passing through a damaged tube. Thus, the egg is made to attach and develop in the tube. Rarely, the egg attaches to an ovary, the cervix or the abdomen. If the egg keeps growing in the damaged uterine tube, it can damage or rupture the tube and trigger severe internal hemorrhage that could be deadly. If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you need immediate treatment to end it before it causes serious health problems.
What puts pregnancy at risk?
1. Smoking. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of an extrauterine pregnancy.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is often the termination of infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
3. Endometriosis, which can bring on scar tissue in or around the oviducts.
4. Several induced terminations of pregnancy.
5. Exposure to the chemical DES before birth.
Symptoms
Abdominal or pelvic pain, often one-sided, is the first common symptom of an extrauterine pregnancy. There may also be shoulder and neck pain. The pain is commonly acute. Weakness, lightheadedness or fainting can signal grave internal haemorrhage, requiring prompt specialist medical aid.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy includes an ultrasouns, a pelvic exam administered to test for pain, tenderness or a mass in the abdomen. The most useful laboratory test is the measurement of the endocrine profile, especially of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Treatment methods
Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy is operation, often by laparoscopy nowadays, to remove the ectopic pregnancy. A perforated tube normally has to be removed. If the tube has not ruptured yet, it may be possible to fix it.
Future pregnancies
The extent of the surgery affects the probability of future pregnancies. If the Uterine tube has been spared, the chance of a successful pregnancy is usually exceeds 50%. If a uterine tube has been removed, an egg can be impregnated in the other tube, and the probability of a successful pregnancy is lower than 50%. |
Article Details
