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Nov 5 2011

Ectopic Pregnancy – What Every Woman Needs To Know

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Ectopic pregnancies are far more common than people think. On average this condition affects one in a hundred pregnancies. Here we discuss the symptoms and the effects this condition has on women.

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Put simply an Ectopic Pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes, cervix or ovary. It usually happens when the fallopian tube is damaged or blocked and prevents the fertilised egg from reaching its correct destination and therefore it implants itself in the fallopian tube.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Ectopic Pregnancies are usually discovered between the fourth and tenth week of pregnancy when the expectant mother will have experienced some of the following symptoms.

  • Pain when urinating or opening her bowels
  • Vaginal bleeding, which is darker and more watery than a normal period bleed
  • Diarrhoea, fainting, vomiting and general pain.
  • Persistent pain on one side of the abdomen
  • Pain in the shoulder

Can It Affect Any Expectant Mother?

Affecting one in a hundred pregnancies makes this condition a lot more common than most women realise. However there are certain factors, which could make a woman more at risk of an Ectopic Pregnancy.

Oct 27 2011

Ectopic Pregnancy – Ten Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

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An ectopic pregnancy, sometimes called a tubal pregnancy, happens when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the lining of the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube but other places where an ectopic can implant are the abdominal cavity, ovary or cervix. Ectopic pregnancies are sometimes difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are very similar to normal pregnancy symptoms and some women have no symptoms at all. When a pregnancy starts to develop somewhere other than the uterus there is no room for the placenta to attach or the pregnancy to grow and develop properly. A pregnancy that develops inside the fallopian tube will eventually rupture if left untreated. Complications from a ruptured tube can be life threatening. In fact, ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester. A ruptured tube is a medical emergency.

Here are ten ectopic pregnancy symptoms you should not ignore.

1. Vaginal spotting or bleeding: One of the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy is spotting or bleeding. Although bleeding in early pregnancy does not always mean there is something wrong with the pregnancy, if you have spotting or bleeding you should report this to your doctor. Some other causes of spotting during pregnancy are implantation bleeding, subchorionic hematoma, irritation of the cervix, or miscarriage.

2. Slow rising hCG levels: Your doctor may run a quantitative hCG test in early pregnancy if you are having vaginal spotting or if he suspects ectopic pregnancy. Slow rising hCG levels can be an indicator of an ectopic pregnancy. During a normal pregnancy, hCG levels will double every two to three days in early pregnancy. With an ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels may rise but they tend to go up very slowly and not double like they should. If your hCG levels are low or not doubling your doctor may order more blood work or an ultrasound to rule out ectopic pregnancy or other complications.

3. Cramping: Mild cramping during early pregnancy is normal, but severe cramping or cramping accompanied with spotting, is not normal and could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Cramping may be on one side or may feel like menstrual cramps.

4. Dizziness: Dizziness is another sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Dizziness may be a result of internal bleeding. Dizziness can also be caused by not eating enough, anemia, or not getting enough sleep.

5. Pain on one side: Pain on one side is something that you should alert your doctor about. Women may notice mild to severe abdominal pain located on one side. Not all women with ectopic pregnancies will notice pain. Once the tube has ruptured the pain will become more severe.

6: Rectal pressure, gas pain, or feeling constipated: Sometimes the pain from an ectopic can be mistaken for gas pain or constipation. If internal bleeding has occurred, this can put pressure on the rectal area and can be mistaken for gas pain or constipation. If you are having severe gas pain during early pregnancy don't dismiss this. Call your doctor.

7. Low blood pressure: If the ectopic pregnancy goes undiagnosed and there is internal bleeding, this can cause a woman's blood pressure to drop. She may feel short of breath, tired, or have a drop in blood pressure.

8. Shoulder pain: Shoulder pain may result after the ectopic pregnancy has ruptured. The internal bleeding caused from the rupturing may cause irritation of the nerves which results in shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is an indicator that the tube has already ruptured and if you notice shoulder pain, especially if it is accompanied with other ectopic pregnancy symptoms, you should get immediate medical attention.

9. Nausea: Nausea is also a symptom. Since morning sickness is very common during early pregnancy, this symptom may be hard to distinguish from normal pregnancy symptoms.

10. Shock: If the fallopian tube ruptures, a woman will have internal bleeding and may go into shock from all of the bleeding. Ectopic pregnancies can be life threatening. A ruptured tube will require hospitalization, surgery, and possibly a blood transfusion. If you have any symptoms of shock such as cold clammy skin, anxiety, dizziness, sweating, feeling weak, fainting, or having a rapid but weak pulse you should call 911 immediately.

Ectopic Pregnancy - Ten Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Categories: Pregnancy Complications | No Comments »

Sep 16 2011

Treatment Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

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Treatment an ectopic pregnancy is different for every woman, depending on the size and location where the egg implants itself, and what type of pregnancy complications are involved.

Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of death amongst women in the first few months of their pregnancy period, so consult a doctor immediately, if you notice anything abnormal that may be symptomatic of an ectopic pregnancy.

The first stage in the treatment involves elimination of the dangerous non-viable intrauterine pregnancy, to minimize the risk for the mother. In this, the doctor always tries to protect future pregnancy prospects for the mother.

Complications include the reduced probability of further conception; however, this greatly depends on the extent of damage to the internal organs. Future pregnancies must only be planned after proper consultation with a doctor.

Treatment Options Include -

  • Non-invasive Chemical Method -

    • An early pregnancy that is ectopic in nature can at times be cured with a methotrexate injection that will dissolve the fertilized egg. This is advantageous for the mother, as it prevents scarring of the pelvic organs. Since ectopic pregnancies do not give rise to live births, look out for symptoms, so that an early treatment course can be undertake.

  • Surgery -

    • If the ectopic nature of your pregnancy is detected in the later stages, along with pregnancy complications, then surgery may be necessary. Nowadays, the less invasive laparoscopy surgery method is widely used in its treatment. If a woman's fallopian tube has ruptured, then before pregnancy complications develop, an emergency surgery through an abdominal incision (laparatomy) may become necessary. In very few cases, the doctor is able to repair the damaged fallopian tube, which gets removed in most instances.

    After the surgery, one needs close monitoring of her HCG (pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin) levels. If this level does not show a zero reading, then additional surgery may be required for any left out ectopic tissue.

    Your chance of a future pregnancy depends on the place where you had the egg implanted. If both your fallopian tubes are intact, then the probability of a successful future pregnancy is about 60%. However, if you have had one ectopic pregnancy, then the chance of a second also increases. So, doctors always advise to be aware of the symptoms, so that early treatment is done.

  • Expectant Management -

    • In a few cases, treatment of an ectopic pregnancy may be done through expectant management. This involves close observation and constant monitoring, and no treatment is given. Expectant management is undertaken in very few cases, where it is anticipated that the it will automatically resolve. However, until the condition completely normalizes, the risk of a rupture always remains.Treatment of ectopic pregnancy no doubt exists, but, why don't you try to prevent it and also cut down on certain risk factors. This can be done by avoiding multiple sexual partners, and also using a condom while intercourse. This will help avoid STD's and reduce the chances of PIDs (pelvic inflammatory diseases).

    Treatment Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

    Categories: Pregnancy Complications | No Comments »

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