ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

What is an ectopic pregnancy? An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself outside of the uterus. They’re also called “tubal pregnancies” because most of them happen in the fallopian tubes. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy? The first warning sign of an ectopic pregnancy is pelvic pain. Light vaginal bleeding may also occur. If blood leaks from the fallopian tube, you may feel increasing abdominal pain, an urge to have a bowel movement or pelvic discomfort. MEDICINE FOR IT? Early ectopic pregnancy may be managed with medicine. If you have low levels of hCG — a hormone your body makes when you’re pregnant and there’s no damage to the fallopian tube, your doctor can give you an injection of a drug called methotrexa. This is a pregnancy that is not in the common place within the uterus but develops exterior the uterus (womb). The most ordinary place that ectopic pregnancy occurs is in one of the fallopian tubes .Not often, an ectopic pregnancy takes place in the abdomen, ovary or neck of the uterus (cervix). An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg gets stuck on its way to the uterus. This may be because when the fallopian tube has been scarred, injured or the shape is changed. Factors that can enlarge your risk for an ectopic pregnancy include:

• gonorrhoea
• earlier ectopic pregnancies
• earlier surgery on the fallopian tubes or in the pelvic area
• Taking fertility medications around the time of conception
• Women who get pregnant while an intrauterine device (IUD) is in place

If you have an ectopic pregnancy you may knowledge about abnormal vaginal bleeding, deficiency of menstrual periods , breast pain, lower back pain, nausea, lower abdominal or pelvic pain and mild cramping on one side of the pelvis. If you have a ruptured ectopic pregnancy you may have fainting, shoulder pain, intense pressure in the rectum, severe lower abdominal pain and low blood pressure. An abnormal rise in blood HCG levels may show an ectopic pregnancy. If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, you will probably also have ultrasounds of your pelvis to imagine the position of pregnancy. To diagnose ectopic pregnancy your doctor will present a pelvic examination. Your doctor may check your human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels.. A more sensitive ultrasound test may be done using an intravaginal probe (special probe inside the vagina). A laparoscopy can also be performed to provide diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will monitor your HCG blood levels to make sure that the ectopic pregnancy has been totally removed and no further treatment is required. If the pregnancy is continuing or if you have certain health conditions indicating that medications should not be used you will likely need surgery to take away the abnormal pregnancy. Surgical intervention may also be necessary if the tube has ruptured, damaged or if there is severe bleeding inside the abdomen. The ectopic pregnancy may be removed using laparoscopy, a less invasive surgical process. Treatment choice for an ectopic pregnancy depends on the size and location of the pregnancy. Treatment options contain nonsurgical and surgical methods. If the ectopic pregnancy is in the fallopian tube and the embryo is still relatively tiny, you may be given medications to stop the growth of the embryo. These medications dissolve the fertilized egg without doing any harm to your fallopian tubes or other organs. As the medications begin to work you may have abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding especially within the first several days. Your doctor will monitor your HCG blood levels to make sure that the ectopic pregnancy has been totally removed and no further treatment is required. If the pregnancy is continuing or if you have certain health situation indicating that medications should not be used you will likely need surgery to take away the abnormal pregnancy. Surgical intervention may also be necessary if the tube has ruptured, damaged or if there is severe bleeding inside the abdomen. The ectopic pregnancy may be removed using laparoscopy, a less invasive surgical procedure. During this surgery a long thin tube attached with a camera, called laparoscope is passed into the abdomen through a minute incision. This enables your surgeon to observe the ectopic pregnancy and remove it.