| Specifying the problem
In a normal pregnancy, an impregnated egg travels through a uterine tube to the womb. The egg attaches to the uterus and begins growing. But in an ectopic pregnancy (also known as an extrauterine pregnancy), a fertilized egg implants in another organ but not the uterus, commonly in a salpinx. An ectopic pregnancy is often caused by damage to the salpinges. A fertilized egg may have difficulty in travelling through a damaged tube causing the egg to implant and grow in the tube. Seldom, the egg attaches to an ovary, the cervix or the abdomen. If the egg keeps growing in the damaged fallopian tube, it can damage or burst the tube and cause heavy internal haemorrhage which can be fatal. If you think you have an ectopic pregnancy, you need immediate medical assistance to cease it before it leads to grave health problems.
Factors bringing on salpinges damage
1. Smoking. The more cigarettes a day you smoke, the higher your risk of an extrauterine pregnancy.
2. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It is often brought on by an infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
3. Endometriosis which can cause healing tissue in or around the salpinges.
4. Exposure to the chemical DES before birth.
5. A history of repeated induced termination of pregnancy.
Common symptoms
Abdominal or pelvic pain, often one-sided, is the first common symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. There can also be shoulder and neck pain. The pain is normally sharp. Weakness, lightheadedness or fainting can indicate serious internal bleeding which requires immediate medical aid.
Diagnosis
An ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed by means of a pelvic examination, an ultrasound. The most useful lab test is the measurement of the endocrine profile, especially of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Medical help
Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy is surgery, mostly by laparoscopy nowadays, to remove the extrauterine pregnancy. A perforated tube commonly has to be removed. If the tube has not ruptured yet, it may be fixed.
Future pregnancies
The extent of the operation impacts upon the possibility of future pregnancies. If the Salpinx has been fixed, the probability of a successful pregnancy is commonly higher than 50%. If an oviduct has been removed, an egg can be impregnated in the remaining tube, and the chance of a successful pregnancy is lower than 50%. |
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