Ectopic pregnancy

Email this page to a friend Share on facebook Share on twitter Bookmark & Share Printerfriendly version An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus ! "t is life-threatening to the mother!

Causes and risk factors

"n most pregnancies# the fertili$ed egg travels through the fallopian tube to the womb (uterus ! Anything that blocks or slows the movement of this egg through these tubes can lead to ectopic pregnancy%

Birth defect in the fallopian tubes Scarring after a ruptured appendi& Endometriosis 'aving an ectopic pregnancy before Scarring from past infections or surgery of the female organs

(he following also increase your risk of an ectopic pregnancy%

Age over )* +etting pregnant while having an intrauterine device (",'ad surgery to untie tubes (tubal sterili$ation to become pregnant 'aving had many se&ual partners Some infertility treatments 'aving your tubes tied (tubal ligation - more likely . or more years after the procedure 'ad surgery to untie tubes in order to get pregnant

Sometimes the cause is unknown! 'ormones may play a role! (he most common site for an ectopic pregnancy is within one of the two fallopian tubes! "n rare cases# ectopic pregnancies can occur in the ovary# abdomen# or cervi&! An ectopic pregnancy can occur even if you use birth control!

Symptoms

/ou may have early pregnancy symptoms# such as breast tenderness or nausea! 0ther symptoms may include% Abnormal vaginal bleeding 1ow back pain

2ild cramping on one side of the pelvis 3o periods Pain in the lower belly or pelvic area

"f the area around the abnormal pregnancy ruptures and bleeds# symptoms may get worse! (hey may include%

4ainting or feel faint "ntense pressure in the rectum 1ow blood pressure Pain in the shoulder area Severe# sharp# and sudden pain in the lower abdomen

Exams and Tests

(he health care provider will do a pelvic e&am! (his may show tenderness in the pelvic area! A pregnancy test and vaginal ultrasound will be done! '5+ is a hormone normally produced during pregnancy! 5hecking the blood level of this hormone (6uantitative '5+ blood test can diagnose pregnancy! "f the blood level of '5+ is not rising fast enough# your doctor may suspect an ectopic pregnancy!

Treatment
Ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening! (he pregnancy cannot continue to birth (term ! (he developing cells must be removed to save the mother7s life! /ou will need emergency medical help if the area of the ectopic pregnancy breaks open (ruptures ! 8upture can lead to bleeding and shock# an emergency condition! (reatment for shock may include%

Blood transfusion 4luids given through a vein

9eeping warm 0&ygen 8aising the legs

"f there is a rupture# surgery is done to stop blood loss and remove the pregnancy! "n some cases# the doctor may have to remove the fallopian tube! "f the ectopic pregnancy has not ruptured# treatment may include%

Surgery 2edicine that ends the pregnancy# along with close monitoring by your doctor

Outlook (Prognosis)
0ne out of three women who have had one ectopic pregnancy are later able to have a baby! Another ectopic pregnancy is more likely to occur! Some women do not become pregnant again! (he likelihood of a successful pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy depends on%

(he woman7s age :hether she has already had children :hy the first ectopic pregnancy occurred

When to Contact a Medical Professional

5all your doctor or nurse if you have%

Abnormal vaginal bleeding 1ower abdominal or pelvic pain

An ectopic pregnancy can occur even if you use birth control!

Pre ention
2ost forms of ectopic pregnancy that occur outside the fallopian tubes are probably not preventable! But a tubal pregnancy may be prevented in some cases by avoiding conditions that might scar the fallopian tubes! (he following may reduce your risk%

Practicing safer se& by taking steps before and during se&# which can prevent you from getting an infection +etting early diagnosis and treatment of all infections caused by se&ual relations (S(-s Stopping smoking

!lternati e "ames
(ubal pregnancy; 5ervical pregnancy; (ubal ligation-ectopic pregnancy

#eferences
American 5ollege of 0bstetricians and +ynecologists! A50+ Practice Bulletin 3o!<=% 2edical management of ectopic pregnancy! Obstet Gynecol! .>>?;@@@%@=A<B@=?*! 8eaffirmed .>@.! Barnhart 9(! Ectopic pregnancy! N Engl J Med! .>><;)C@%)A<-)?A! 'oury -E# Salhi BA! Acute complications of pregnancy! "n% 2ar& DA# ed! Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice! Ath ed! Philadelphia# PA% Elsevier 2osby; .>><%chap @AC! 1obo 8A! Ectopic pregnancy% Etiology# pathology# diagnosis# management# fertility prognosis! "n% 1ent$ +2# 1obo 8A# +ershenson -2# 9at$ E1# eds! Comprehensive Gynecology! Cth ed! Philadelphia# PA% Elsevier 2osby; .>@.%chap @A!

$pdate %ate& '()('*+,

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000895.htm