Pregnancy is the most blissful phase in every Woman’s life. A healthy pregnancy is what everyone wants, but most pregnancies are full of complications. One such complication is called Ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy, also called extra uterine pregnancy can be a nightmare if not treated on time. Ectopic pregnancy symptoms can be seen in the very first few weeks of conceiving. If these symptoms are ignored it can become a life threatening situation.
Ectopic pregnancy occurs in the primary stage of conceiving even before you are aware of the pregnancy. It’s also known as tubal Pregnancy. Ectopic Pregnancy shows many signs and symptoms in the fourth to sixth week after the last menstruation. It’s a high risk situation because it occurs in the fallopian tube instead of the uterine wall. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube can lead to the bursting of the tube which can be life endangering.
In this article, we’re going to explain what the symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy are and how to get tested and treated before it’s too late.
In normal pregnancy the fertilized egg implants and develops in the uterus. In ectopic pregnancy mostly the fertilized egg settles in the fallopian tube, commonly known as tubal pregnancy. The egg can also implant in ovary, abdomen and cervix and hence is sometimes known as cervical or abdominal pregnancy. In 90% of cases it’s a tubal pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies are very rare- Every 2 out of 100 women develop this kind of pregnancy. This pregnancy can be fatal because the organs to which the fertilized egg gets attached do not have enough space for its growth. Therefore a growing fetus can rupture the organ leading to bleeding and death. Ectopic pregnancy does not lead to live birth and have to be treated straight away.
A Point to remember- Ectopic pregnancies can never lead to live birth and hence should be terminated. Bleeding and abdominal pain in the fourth week is the common symptom and requires immediate medical attention..- HERA
Ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose because its early symptoms are the same as the normal ones. In the 3rd or 4th week of ectopic pregnancy, women can experience nausea, vomiting and lightheadedness. But, there are many emergency symptoms of Ectopic pregnancy that you must not ignore.
Ectopic pregnancy is hard to find out. This often happens when a fertilized egg is not able to move to the uterus. A tubal pregnancy happens when the egg remains stuck in the fallopian tube due to some kind of damage to the tube by inflammation or scar. Hormonal imbalances or abnormal development of the fertilized egg can also be a cause of ectopic pregnancy.
These are some of the risk factors of ectopic pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia, can cause inflammation in the fallopian tubes and increase your risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
Previous ectopic pregnancy- If you’ve had an ectopic pregnancy before, you’re more likely to have another.
Some research shows that women who have in vitro fertilization (IVF) or similar treatments are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy.
Surgery in Tube- Surgery to correct a closed or damaged fallopian tube can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.
If you do get pregnant with an intrauterine device already implanted then it can lead to ectopic pregnancy.
Cigarette smoking is bad for pregnancy. Smoking just before getting pregnant can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. The more you smoke, the greater is the risk of developing ectopic pregnancy.
Hera Pro Tip: If you previously suffered an ectopic pregnancy then you should take medical advice before planning your next pregnancy.- HERA
Any symptom of ectopic pregnancy should not be ignored and the patient should be rushed to gynecologist for examination. Firstly the doctor conducts a pelvic examination, if suspecting ectopic pregnancy then positive or negative ectopic pregnancy test is done.
Treatment options for Ectopic Pregnancy include Medication and surgery. In most cases immediate lifesaving surgery is needed. The most common drug used to treat ectopic Pregnancy is methotrexate. This medicine stops cells from growing, which ends the pregnancy. While in surgery ectopic tissue can be removed using laparoscopy. Through this, the ectopic tissue is surgically removed and any damaged organs are repaired.
Many women who have had an ectopic pregnancy will go on to have normal pregnancies in the future, but some will have difficulty conceiving again. This difficulty is common in women who suffered fertility problems before ectopic pregnancy. It depends on a woman’s fertility and the damage that happened to the tubes. Future pregnancies should be planned as per doctor’s advice.
In most ectopic pregnancies, the embryo will not survive more than the first trimester. In more than 90% of ectopic pregnancies, the egg implants in the fallopian tube which doesn’t provide it space to grow and hence can never lead to live birth.
After missing a period if you feel intense abdominal or pelvis pain and bleeding, call your doctor immediately. If you have other symptoms, such as shoulder pain, dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting, call your doctor right away. These could be signs of internal bleeding.
Ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening. It can cause problems conceiving in future. Taking proper medical consultation is important to have a healthy pregnancy afterwards. So, check your symptoms as given above and have a healthy pregnancy in future.