The Medical Science of Ectopic Pregnancy

The beginning of pregnancy is related to the development of a fertilized egg. This egg is attached to the lining in the uterus which keeps the egg safe. In ectopic pregnancy the fertilized egg is actually implanted outside the line of the uterus. This actually takes place in one of the tubes that are used to carry the egg from ovaries to uterus. This pregnancy where the egg is in the tube is called as tubal pregnancy. Some ectopic pregnancies can also take place in the abdominal cavity or even in the neck of the uterus.

 

This type of pregnancy cannot proceed normally as the fertilized cannot survive and the growth of the tissue can actually destroy the maternal structures. If this is not treated in time it can lead to a blood loss which can even lead to death of the individual, but of treated in time it can actually preserve the future pregnancies.

 

Symptoms

The ectopic pregnancy however cannot proceed normally as the fertilized cannot survive outside the uterus, but the grown tissue can actually damage the maternal structures. The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are

• Extreme abdominal pain in the pelvis and vaginal bleeding
• Lightheadedness which can also lead to fainting

Causes:

In ectopic pregnancy the fertilized egg is actually stuck in between the ovaries and uterus inside a tube. It leads to inflammation of the fallopian tube (uterus) which can be damaged or can lead to a mishap. The hormonal imbalances can lead to the abnormality of the fetus. The cause of ectopic pregnancy still remains an unsolved mystery.

 

Risk Factors:

The ratio of ectopic pregnancy is 20:1000; let’s take a look at the factors which lead to ectopic pregnancy:

• Earlier symptoms of ectopic pregnancy: If a woman has had an ectopic pregnancy earlier then there are bright chances the second pregnancy might be ectopic too.

• Uterus Inflammation: Infection of the uterus, fallopian tube or even the ovaries can raise the bar for ectopic pregnancy.

• Infertility: If a woman suffers from infertility and has been consuming drug to treat it, it may lead to ectopic pregnancy.

• Shape of fallopian Tube:  This is the most cause which can lead to this kind of pregnancy, the unusual shape or a damaged fallopian tube.

Complications:

The risk is usually high if you or your partner suffers from ectopic pregnancy. If the fallopian tube is ruptured, the internal bleeding can claim an individual’s life.

 

Diagnosis and Tests:

If ectopic pregnancy is suspected the physician might have to examine the pelvic. There may be some pain, tenderness or some mass in the fallopian tube or even in the ovary. Physical examination is actually not sufficient for the ectopic pregnancy however some blood tests have to be carried out along with imaging tests which includes ultrasound.

 

Ultrasound cannot always detect pregnancy. The high ultra waves are actually directed to the tissue inside the abdominal area. The ultrasound is actually done with a wand like device which is actually placed close to the vagina.

 

The physician might also do some blood tests which will confirm the pregnancy if it has not been detected by ultrasound. This usually takes place in four to five weeks after the lady has conceived.

 

If the woman bleeds profusely then the ectopic pregnancy is confirmed which has to be treated surgically.

 

Drugs & Treatment

The fertilized egg just cannot develop outside the uterus and the ectopic tissue has to be removed. If this type of pregnancy is detected early an injection of methotrexate can actually stop the growth of the cell that can ultimately dissolve the cell.

 

Some of the cases of ectopic pregnancy are treated with laparoscopy. In this technique a small incision is actually made in the abdomen and the doctor can actually view the internal area with the help of a camera lens. It the damage to fallopian tube is observed it has to be removed.

 

In case of emergency when there is severe bleeding that takes place, the abdominal incisions or laprotomy is used to repair the fallopian tube. The fact is that the damaged tube has to be removed.

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