Ectopic Pregnancy: A quick guide for Filipino moms

If you‘re experiencing symptoms like vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain, you may be wondering if you have an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one that occurs outside of the womb, usually in the fallopian tubes. While it‘s very dangerous, there are treatments available.

What is an Ectopic pregnancy?

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According to Dr. Eric Daiter of The New Jersey Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, an ectopic pregnancy, or tubal pregnancy, is one that occurs outside of the womb.

The most common location for a tubal pregnancy is inside one of the fallopian tubes. This can occur when an egg is fertilized and does not implant into the uterus.

The fertilized egg can attach to the inside of the fallopian tube, the ovary, the outside of the uterus or to the intestine. Fertilized eggs that implant outside of the uterus can not grow to become fetuses due to the lack of nutrients and non-accommodating organs.

An tubal pregnancy is very dangerous. As the attached fertilized egg grows, it can damage organs and cause severe internal bleeding.

For example, your fallopian tube isn’t designed to expand and accommodate a growing fetus. Therefore, if a fertilized egg implants there, it can rupture the tube. Arteries that are located nearby can rupture as well.

Signs of Ectopic Pregnancy

You may not notice any symptoms at first. Missed periods, breast discomfort, and nausea are common early indications and symptoms of tubal pregnancy in some women.

When a fertilized egg grows in the wrong place, the signs and symptoms become more visible. The initial signs of an ectopic pregnancy are usually light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. You may have shoulder pain or a strong desire to urinate if blood seeps from the fallopian tube. The most common symptoms of a tubal pregnancy are vaginal bleeding and abdominal or pelvic pain. Symptoms can become much more severe if the ectopic pregnancy ruptures. You may become dizzy or even pass out, and may experience a fast heart rate of over one hundred beats per minute. You may become pale, clammy, and sweaty. Pain will become so severe that you are unable to stand or walk. Many women go into shock when a tubal pregnancy ruptures.

If you suspect that you have an ectopic pregnancy or ectopic rupture, then you should immediately seek medical attention as you could have an immediate life-threatening condition.

First, pregnancy will be confirmed. Second, an ultrasound will be performed to confirm that the pregnancy is ectopic. This will also help locate the developing embryo (fertilized egg).

If the embryo or the gestational sac is too small to be detected by ultrasound, and you are in stable condition, then your doctor may monitor you closely by performing blood tests every two to three days to follow hormone levels.

When the pregnancy (gestational sac, embryo, or fertilized egg) has grown large enough, the ultrasound will be repeated to locate it. If it is confirmed that the pregnancy is ectopic, then immediate treatment will be ordered.

Signs of Ectopic pregnancy at 6 weeks

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Symptoms normally appear 6–8 weeks after the last menstrual cycle. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any bleeding or pain while pregnant.

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Ectopic pregnancy bleeding

The fallopian tube may rupture if the fertilized egg continues to develop in the tube. It’s likely that you’ll have a lot of internal bleeding. Extreme lightheadedness, fainting, and shock are all symptoms of this life-threatening occurrence.

Ectopic pregnancy causes

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Tubal pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg becomes stuck on its way to the uterus. This is usually due to inflammation or a deformed fallopian tube. Hormonal imbalances or insufficient fertilization development could have an influence.

Ectopic pregnancy risk factors Previous tubal pregnancy

You’re more likely to have another of these pregnancies if you’ve had one previously.

Infection or inflammation

Sexually transmitted illnesses like gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause inflammation in the tubes and other adjacent organs, increasing your chances of having an ectopic pregnancy.

Infertility treatments

Several studies have found that women who have had IVF or similar treatments are more likely to develop an ectopic pregnancy. Infertility can also make you more vulnerable to having a tubal pregnancy.

Tubal ligation

Surgery to repair a closed or broken fallopian tube may raise the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Birth control

The pregnancy is more likely to be ectopic if you get pregnant while wearing an IUD. Tubal ligation, sometimes known as “tying your tubes,” is a long-term birth control method that improves your chances of becoming pregnant if you fall pregnant after the procedure.

Smoking

When you smoke cigarettes before getting pregnant, you increase your chances of having a tubal pregnancy. The more you smoke, the higher the risk.

Complications of Ectopic pregnancy

When the embryo implants in the fallopian tube, it does not have enough room to grow or enough blood flow to keep it alive, therefore it dies.

The tube may cause some tissues to leak or bleed. Some embryos continue to grow, and the fallopian tube may eventually burst. This can lead to a lot of bleeding and shock.

Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the first three months of pregnancy in the United States.

Ectopic pregnancy diagnosis

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The hormone hCG will be tested in your blood by your healthcare provider (human chorionic gonadotropin). They’ll utilize ultrasound to look for a fetus or other pregnancy tissue in the uterus.

Your doctor may use laparoscopy to detect and treat an ectopic pregnancy in some instances. In this surgery, a lighted tube is placed into your abdomen to check the inside of your pelvis. It frequently provides the most precise diagnosis.

Treating Ectopic pregnancy

If your fallopian tube has ruptured, the stage of your pregnancy, and your hormone levels all play a role.

Options for treatment include: Allow the body to naturally heal and absorb the ectopic pregnancy. This is only applicable in specific situations. Using Methotrexate – a medication to prevent a pregnancy from continuing. Use surgery to create a tiny hole in the fallopian tube (typically laparoscopy). The surgeon removes the pregnancy and, in some situations, the tube. A larger abdominal incision to remove an ectopic pregnancy or a damaged fallopian tube (some cases). Can an Ectopic pregnancy be saved?

It’s extremely rare that an ectopic pregnancy will be saved. Insufficient space exists in the fallopian tubes for any ectopic pregnancy to occur. The tube will eventually rupture if not addressed. If the pregnancy develops outside of the uterus, there is no way to save it without putting your life at risk.

If fetal growth is uncontrolled, it will involve more tissue and vascular structures. Any rupture will almost certainly result in a big bleed. Fetal death is almost certain and the risk to the mother is high. Thus, there will be termination of pregnancy through surgery or abortive medicines. The mother is at risk because the placenta does not generally separate and release as it would in a uterine pregnancy. Unfortunately, no medical equipment exists that can transfer an ectopic pregnancy from the fallopian tubes to the uterus. How to prevent Ectopic pregnancy

There is no way to prevent a tubal pregnancy. However, there are certain steps you can do to lower your risk:

Having fewer sexual partners and using a condom during sex can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Do not smoke. If this is the case, you should not try to conceive. Can I get pregnant again after an Ectopic pregnancy

After a tubal pregnancy, some women opt to avoid becoming pregnant again.

To avoid pregnancy, you can begin taking any sort of birth control. To discover which choice is best for you, consult your doctor. It will depend on how you handled the ectopic pregnancy. If your tubal pregnancy did not require treatment, you can try for pregnancy if a healthcare provider determines that the ectopic pregnancy is no longer present and you are emotionally and physically ready. Your chances of becoming pregnant again are slim if you have surgery to remove the tubal pregnancy. The scarring from the procedure and the removal of the fallopian tube can make it more difficult to conceive in the future. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation to discover if you can get pregnant again. People who have had one tubal pregnancy before having a 10% probability of having another. But this does not rule out the likelihood of miscarriages of various types in later pregnancies.

Updates by Margaux Dolores

Mayo Clinic, Cedars Sinai, Hello Clue, Very Well Family

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