An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo implants itself outside the uterus. Under normal circumstances, when fertilization takes place, the fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube and then implants in the uterus, also referred to as the womb. Sometimes, it can so happen that after the fertilization takes place, instead of traveling to the uterus, the embryo implants in the fallopian tube. When this happens, the embryo keeps growing and ultimately leads to the rupture of the tube, which is life threatening to the mother.
There have been cases, although rare, where ectopic pregnancies occur in the abdomen, cervix or the ovary. According to available statistics, in the US, one in every 2,000 ectopic pregnancies leads to death.
When it comes to ectopic pregnancy, there are certain risk factors that increase the chances. But any woman can have ectopic pregnancy. It has been seen that ectopic pregnancy in the US is quite prevalent among African Americans. It can also occur in women who have in vitro fertilization, those who used IUDs or those who get pregnant after reversing the previously done sterilization.
As such there is no treatment for ectopic pregnancy. The only way to handle this pregnancy is to remove the embryo. This is not considered an abortion as the embryo usually does not survive in this type of pregnancy and the removal is more to save the life of the mother. It is this removal procedure that renders many women infertile to a certain degree. Usually when the pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube, a portion of the tube or the entire tube is removed. This depends on whether the tube has burst or not. If both the tubes are removed, the woman will not be able to have conception. Instead she will have to have assisted conception, and the way forward for the woman will be in vitro fertilization.
