An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The word "ectopic" refers to something that is in the wrong place. It is not possible to transplant an ectopic pregnancy to the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can be life threatening if not terminated immediately.
The fertilized egg implants within a fallopian tube in more than 90 percent of ectopic pregnancies. This is a tubal baby. In rare cases, the fertilized egg can be implanted in the uterus or in a scar from a previous C-section. Rarely, a fertilized egg can attach to an ovary, the cervix or an organ in the abdomen.
There are no ectopic pregnancies that develop into a full-term fetus. The embryo can't develop normally if it implants in a location other than the uterine wall. There isn't enough space or the right tissue for the embryo to grow in other locations.
The uterus is a unique organ that can stretch dramatically with a growing fetus.
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An ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. The embryo can cause the fallopian tube to break if it grows in an ectopic pregnancy. It can lead to serious internal bleeding and infections. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, this can be fatal.
Despite the risks, most people who experience an ectopic pregnancy can be treated and have normal pregnancies in the future.
ectopic pregnancies are more common in the United States than people realize.
Six to 10 weeks after a missed menstrual period, symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy appear. The most common signs of an ectopic pregnancy are vaginal bleeding and/or pain on one side of the body.
Some people have pain in their back or shoulder. Blood loss may cause dizziness or fainting. Some people may have no symptoms until a fallopian tube breaks, while others may have a specific symptom. Heavy bleeding in the abdomen can cause lightheadedness.
It's possible to have an ectopic pregnancy if the egg can't travel down the fallopian tube.
The risk of an ectopic pregnancy can be increased by certain conditions.
Kickham said that ectopic pregnancies are not caused by genetic factors. In cases where there are no known risk factors, about half of ectopic pregnancies occur.
Smoking and tubal surgeries can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy if they affect the functioning of the fallopian tubes.
Doctors can use a blood test to determine the levels of a hormone that is present only during a pregnant woman's uterus.
If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, doctors need to measure the levels of hCG in the blood. In a normal pregnant woman, the levels of the reproductive hormones are doubled in 48 to 72 hours, but in an ectopic pregnancy they may rise more slowly.
A person who is suspected of having an ectopic pregnancy may also get a transvaginal ultrasound, in which a wand-like device is inserted into the vagina to examine the reproductive organs. High-frequency sound waves can be used to create images that show whether a pregnant woman is inside or outside the uterus.
Sometimes a transvaginalultrasound can show if the embryo is outside the uterus, but it can't always detect an ectopic pregnancy. Even if the embryo is not directly observed, an ectopic pregnancy is suspected if the levels of hCG are between 1,500 and 2,000 mIU/mL.
Kickham said that an ectopic pregnancy diagnosis can be upsetting. She said that there is no medical technology available to move the pregnant woman to the uterus, and that abortion is the only treatment.
A study published in the journal International Women's Health shows that ectopic pregnancies are the leading cause of maternal death during the first trimester.
ectopic pregnancies are usually detected in the first trimester, but can be found later in the second. These instances are extremely rare, and they are also treated with an abortion.
If there is no danger that the fallopian tube will break, treatment for an ectopic pregnancy typically involves medication, such as an injection of methotrexate, a drug used in cancer treatment. The medication stops the growth of the embryo. The benefit of this treatment is that it doesn't affect the fallopian tubes, so it shouldn't interfere with future pregnancies.
Blood is drawn twice on the fourth and seventh days after the injection, so that doctors can see that the levels of hCG have dropped.
If hCG levels have not been reduced by at least 15%, a second injection of methotrexate is needed. An ectopic pregnancy ends when the levels of the human chorionic gonadotropins are zero.
Kickham said that some people may need to have a surgical abortion to end their ectopic pregnancies. The fallopian tube may be removed during surgery. This operation can be done laparoscopically, which is a form of minimally-invasive surgery that requires a small incision, which is usually done on an outpatient basis, and has a shorter recovery time than a more in-depth surgical procedure.
In some cases, surgeons may make a larger incision in the abdomen to end the ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes the fallopian tube can be removed if it is damaged, and other times it can be repaired.
It is possible for one embryo to implant in the uterus while a second embryo is outside of the uterus. It's too risky to treat a woman with medication when she has a twin who is an ectopic pregnancy. In such cases, the embryo in the fallopian tube needs to be removed, but the other twin can continue to develop in the uterus, Kickham said.
Kickham said that if you have had an ectopic pregnancy, you should wait at least three months before trying to get pregnant again. It takes time to heal from an ectopic pregnancy, both physically and emotionally.
The New York Times has a guide on how to recognize the warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy. Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Inc has resources for early pregnancy loss. In the past few years, some anti-abortion legislation has sought to prohibit abortion even if the mother's life is in danger. One bill was introduced in Missouri in March of 2022, and another was proposed by the Ohio State House of Representatives in 2019.
The article is only for informational purposes and not for medical advice.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The year ended in February. Frequently asked questions about ectopic pregnancies.
The clinic is called the Mayo Clinic. There is an ectopic pregnancy. The Mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088 was updated on March 11, 2022.
The organization is called "Planned Parenthood." There is an ectopic pregnancy. On March 11, 2022, from www.plannedparenthood.org, you can learn about pregnancy and ectopic pregnancies.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal contains aDiagnosis and Treatment of ectopic pregnancy by Murray. In no. 8, 2005, pp. 905, you can find it at: http://www.cmaj.050222.
The International Journal of Women's Health published "Ectopic Pregnancy: A Life-Threatening Gynecological Emergency". It can be found at https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s49672.
Tucker, et al. wrote about delayed diagnosis and management of second trimester abdominal pregnancies.
The New York Times has an article about how to recognize and treat an ectopic pregnancy.
Nationalshare.org has a support for pregnant and infant loss.
House Bill No. 2810 is in the General Assembly of the state of Missouri.
The Ohio Legislature has a summary of House Bill 413 on their website.
It was originally published on Live Science.
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