What is ectopic pregnancy? Know the symptoms and treatments

There are still many doubts about what an ectopic pregnancy is, how it is diagnosed and what the treatments are. Broadly speaking, ectopic pregnancy is the name given to a pregnancy that occurs outside the woman’s uterus.

In most of these cases, the embryo develops in one of the fallopian tubes, also known as fallopian tubes. However, there are also records of ectopic pregnancies in the ovaries, cervix or abdomen. It is estimated that around 2% of pregnancies occur in a

What is an ectopic pregnancy

In a normal pregnancy, the egg is fertilized in the tube and travels its way to the uterus. It is the organ responsible for the fetus’ progress over the weeks. However, in ectopic, the egg cannot pass through the tube. Therefore, it cannot settle in the uterus and begins to develop in the wrong place.

In general, the structure where the fetus develops irregularly breaks between the sixth and 14th week. As a result, this is also the period where symptoms begin.

Symptoms

It is common for symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy to appear between the sixth and eighth week of pregnancy. However, there are also cases of symptoms reported before or after this period. In some cases the woman does not even know that she is pregnant. The main symptoms for this condition are:

– Severe pain in the abdomen;

– Vaginal bleeding;

– Swollen abdomen;

– Nausea;

– Generalized malaise.

When experiencing any of these symptoms, it is essential that the woman seeks an emergency room and undergoes clinical and laboratory tests. They are the ones who can confirm the condition and the best treatment if it is confirmed.

First of all, the best thing to do is to have a Beta HCG blood test. Next, a transvaginal ultrasound is needed to identify whether there is an ectopic pregnancy. Ultrasound also analyzes whether the structure in which the embryo is located has been ruptured or not.

Treatment

The treatments available for ectopic pregnancy depend on where the fetus is developing, its size, and whether the structure has ruptured, for example.

There are no resources or medications that can save the embryo’s life or make it move into the uterus. In other words, there is no way to make an ectopic pregnancy a normal pregnancy. In other words, the woman’s life will be at risk if the pregnancy is not terminated.

In most cases, a minor surgery, called laparoscopy, is necessary, where the fetus and placenta are removed. However, this is also the time when the doctor assesses whether it will be necessary to remove the entire damaged structure or whether it is possible to preserve part of the tube.

When there is a risk of major complications, and in emergency cases, there is also the possibility of performing a laparotomy. This surgery requires a larger incision in the abdomen, however, it has the same objective of removing the fetus.

In cases of ectopic pregnancy discovered early, it is possible to use medications, such as Methotrexate, for example. However, it is only an option when the fetus is still small and has not compromised the system’s structures.

Risk factors

Experts point out some risk factors that can lead a woman to have an ectopic pregnancy, most of which include previous problems in the tube region. Are they:

– Previous ectopic pregnancy;

– Smoking;

– Disorder in the fallopian tubes;

– History of surgeries on the tubes;

-Flaws in the tubal ligation procedure;

–Endometriosis;

– Use of IUD;

– History of pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the reproductive organs).

Fertility after ectopic pregnancy

The possibility of having a future pregnancy still exists even if the woman goes through an ectopic pregnancy. Basically, despite the loss of one of the tubes in some cases, fertility is still maintained if the other tube is healthy. However, it is necessary to take into account the risk of another extrauterine pregnancy, which is greater in women with a history of this type of pregnancy.

To know if the remaining tube is healthy, it is necessary to perform a hysterosalpingography exam. Therefore, from it it is possible to analyze the entire uterine cavity and tubes, and check whether the structure will be suitable for a natural pregnancy.