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What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Normally, at the beginning of a pregnancy, the fertilized egg travels from the
fallopian tube to the uterus, where it implants and grows. In nearly 2% of
diagnosed pregnancies, however, the fertilized egg attaches to an area outside
of the uterus, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy (also known as tubal pregnancy
or extrauterine pregnancy).
Women’s body is much more sophisticated than
any other fertility / ovulation calculators, estimation. Fertility, pregnancy,
ovulation calendar is not viewed by scientists as substantial method for
detecting fertile days. Please use only scientifically proven, effective means
of tracking fertility, ovulation period, for the sake of preserving your health and saving
your time. Only the tester for saliva activated ovulation detection,
has the most proven accuracy, and substitutes a number of different calendars
and calculators, as well as devices of peculiar quality and other unsafe
techniques.
Nearly all ectopic pregnancies develop in a fallopian tube; the remainder occur
in an ovary, the cervix, or the abdomen. 2 Generally none of these areas are
capable of holding or sustaining a growing fetus.
What are the risks of ectopic pregnancy?
The most common risk associated with ectopic pregnancy is impaired fertility.
Ectopic pregnancy can damage the fallopian tube, reducing your chances of
conceiving and increasing the risk that a future pregnancy will be ectopic.
Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening condition. Although death
from this condition is rare, ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal
death in the first trimester of pregnancy. 1 A ruptured ectopic pregnancy
requires emergency surgical treatment.
What causes an ectopic pregnancy?
Fallopian tube damage is a common cause of ectopic pregnancy. A damaged
fallopian tube can block the fertilized egg's path to the uterus, causing it to
implant and grow in the tube. Fallopian tube damage is typically the result of
pelvic infection, fallopian tube surgery, or endometriosis.
What increases my risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy?
You have an increased risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy if you have had a
previous ectopic pregnancy or a pelvic infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhea,
have endometriosis, were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before you were
born, or smoke.
Medical treatments that increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy include fallopian
tube surgery, superovulation medication to increase egg production, assisted
reproductive techniques, and pelvic or abdominal surgery.
How can I tell whether I have an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancies can be difficult to identify because they usually trigger
the same hormonal changes that a normal pregnancy does. A missed menstrual
period, fatigue, breast tenderness, nausea, and other early pregnancy symptoms
usually accompany an ectopic pregnancy. The most obvious signs of an ectopic
pregnancy are pelvic or abdominal pain and bleeding. If you have these symptoms,
see your health professional immediately.
A health professional can usually detect an early ectopic pregnancy with a
series of blood tests for pregnancy hormone (hCG) levels, an ultrasound, or
both.
Early diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy allows time for treatment options that
can preserve your fertility and reduce your chance of serious complications. If
you are considered at risk for ectopic pregnancy, you will be closely monitored
during your first trimester.
How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?
A fertilized egg implanted outside the uterus is very unlikely to survive to
full term. Medication, surgery, or a combination of the two are usually used to
end an ectopic pregnancy before it endangers the mother. Some very early ectopic
pregnancies can be watched closely to see whether the embryo will miscarry on
its own.
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