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What is Ectopic Pregnancy and Why is it So Dangerous?

June 28th, 2010

There are many things that women find themselves worrying about when they learn that they are pregnant. It’s true that there are many complications that can happen during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or problems regulating blood pressure. However, early after finding out she is pregnant, one of the very first complications that can happen is that a woman finds out she actually is experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.

The simple definition of an ectopic pregnancy is when the embryo implants itself outside of their uterus. The only place that’s safe and healthy for an embryo to implant is on the uterine wall. Therefore, ectopic pregnancies are not viable and can present a danger to the mother. for example, internal bleeding is one complication that commonly happens if a woman does not terminate the ectopic pregnancy in time.

Most ectopic pregnancies actually occur inside of the fallopian tube. this type of pregnancy is commonly called a tubal pregnancy. However, there are other areas that embryos have been known to implant such as the abdomen, cervix, and ovaries. An ectopic pregnancy is an emergency situation and must be treated quickly. It can be a fatal condition if a woman does not have it treated in time.

If left untreated, about half of the ectopic pregnancies will actually resolve without any treatment whatsoever. However, it is too dangerous to believe that an ectopic pregnancy will treat itself. A woman should definitely seek medical counsel to find out whether or not she needs a particular medication that can reduce the chance that she would have to have surgery. some women end up losing one of their tubes if the embryo is implanted there and they have waited too long to seek medical assistance.

An interesting thing to note is that although an ectopic pregnancy is normally not viable, there have been rare instances where live baby has been delivered as a result of an abdominal one. this typically means that the placenta sat on the abdominal organs and was able to somehow get a good blood supply. However, this puts a great as risk on the mother’s life because the placenta has commonly attached to her internal organs and can cause major hemorrhage and bleeding after the baby is removed.

Tubal Pregnancy – What to Watch For After a Tubal Reversal Surgery

April 26th, 2010

There are many things that can go wrong in a normal pregnancy situation. However for a woman who has had a tubal reversal surgery this can be a big concern. This is because the complication of tubal pregnancy can be a real possibility. After tubal reversal, the chance of a tubal pregnancy is 10 – 15%.

In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg will travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus so that it can attach itself and begin growing. However, in a tubal pregnancy (also called an ectopic pregnancy) the fertilized egg attaches itself somewhere else.

Many times this means that it can attach in the actual fallopian tube itself. Many people do not realize that it can also attach in other incorrect places such as the cervix and belly area.

When a woman learns that she has a positive pregnancy test after tubal reversal, she may be elated and overjoyed. While this is a great thing, she also needs to be cautious about making sure to see her doctor regularly and early on in the process. Dr. Gary Berger, a noted tubal reversal surgeon, recommends that the pregnancy is monitored with HCG blood tests about twice a week at first just to make sure things are progressing in a normal way.

Also, it is recommended that a women have a vaginal ultrasound when her HCG level reaches 1500. This is because the vaginal ultrasound will show the gestation sac in the uterus if the pregnancy is normal. If there is no sac, the doctor will need to perform additional HCG blood tests for a few days until it reaches 2500 and then do another ultrasound.

If the pregnancy is normal, the yolk sac should be seen at this point. If nothing can be seen, there is a good chance that there is either a tubal pregnancy or a blighted ovum. Halting a tubal pregnancy is very important because it cannot lead to a successful or healthy outcome for the mother or the embryo.

Tubal pregnancy can be a dangerous situation in the case of a rupture, so it is important that a woman inform her doctor as soon as she has a positive pregnancy test so that he can monitor her for this possibility if she has had a tubal reversal.

Tubal Pregnancy – What to Watch For After a Tubal Reversal Surgery

Ectopic Pregnancy: One of the Complications Of Pregnancies

March 15th, 2010

Ectopic pregnancy is one of the pregnancy complications that may occur in some women. the fertilized ovum travels from the fallopian tubule and gets implanted in the uterine lining during a normal pregnancy. in ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized ovum is not implanted in the uterine lining, but may get implanted in the ovary, fallopian tubule, abdomen, cervix or any other part of the pelvic area.

The fact that the pregnancy occurs outside the uterus in an organ that is not conducive to its development, ensures that such pregnancies cannot develop into a birth. the pregnancy is considered a high risk, as the organ that the ovum has implanted in, can burst, which can cause internal bleeding which could have a grim outlook. more often, the pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube, due to it being blocked or damaged. this is why such a pregnancy is also referred to as a tubal pregnancy. in most women, such pregnancies result in a spontaneous abortion, but in some, clinical intervention may be required.

Causes of Ectopic Pregnancy

It is said that, those who have pelvic inflammatory disease and those who have suffered tubal damage due to surgery, scar tissue are more prone to suffering from ectopic pregnancy. Endometrioses can also be another cause. the cells from the uterine lining may get detached in some cases and get attached to other organs outside the uterus. Those who are using invitro fertilization may also be at risk. Those who have a history of such pregnancies also are under the high risk category.

How it Is Diagnosed

The women who have ectopic pregnancy have similar pregnancy symptoms as those with a normal pregnancy. the symptoms may include sore breasts, nausea, frequent urination and missed period. They may however have to watch out for other symptoms, such as pain in the abdomen and the shoulders. the pain may be sharp and stabbing, concentrated on one side of the pelvic area. Other symptoms include vaginal spotting, dizziness and there may also be low back pain. some women experience pain while having a bowel movement. Most women have severe pain in the lower abdomen and heavy bleeding.

Diagnosis can be done by an examination done by the doctor, who can identify smaller uterine size than normal as well as the abnormal swellings. in most cases, a laparoscopy or a Laparotomy is done to solve the problem. in some women, only the pregnancy sac is removed, while in others, the entire tubule is removed. this is one of the dreaded pregnancy problems that some have to deal with.

It is therefore advised that, pregnant women read as many books and journals they can in order to stay informed. it is a fact that though there may be a risk for a repeat ectopic pregnancy, the chances are that the women go on to have a normal pregnancy and childbirth the next time.

Ectopic Pregnancy: One of the Complications Of Pregnancies

Ectopic Pregnancy : Strictly Anything

March 12th, 2010

You may have heard of the term ectopic pregnancy before. However, you may also not really know what it means. many people are not knowledgeable when it comes to certain parts of reproduction and procreation, and ectopic pregnancies are one subject that often times go unexplored.

What it Is

An ectopic pregnancy is also known as a tubal pregnancy. This occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself just outside of the uterus. many people assume that a tubal pregnancy is just in the fallopian tube, but that is just the most common type of tubal pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is also when the egg implants itself in the ovary, the abdomen, the cervix, or the cornua.

Is This Common?

Ectopic pregnancies are not very common. In some places, they are between .25% and 1% of all pregnancies. In other places, they are lower or higher percentages. However, ectopic pregnancies are on the rise. Some places have experienced drastic jumps in the numbers of tubal pregnancies in the past twenty years. This could be due to the popularity of birth controls and the malfunctioning of these birth controls, or it could be due to the changing diets and exercise regimes of women of childbearing age.

Causes Of Ectopic Pregnancy

There are many things that can increase the risk of having a tubal pregnancy. However, it is important to note that sometimes ectopic

pregnancies happen even when there are no risk factors present. Advanced maternal age is one risk factor for having a tubal pregnancy. another risk factor is if you have ever had pelvic inflammatory diseases like Chlamydia or gonorrhea. these infections can cause scar tissue to be in the fallopian tubes that can make it difficult for the egg to leave the tube and implant in the uterus. these pelvic inflammatory diseases are currently the main known cause for tubal pregnancies. Once you have had a pelvic inflammatory disease, the chance for having an ectopic pregnancy increases seven times. yet another risk factor for having a tubal pregnancy is if you have had tubal surgery. if you have had tubal ligation, reversal of this ligation, or a surgery for a previous ectopic pregnancy your chances for having another one are higher than normal. likewise, any woman who has already had an ectopic pregnancy has about a ten to twenty percent higher chance at having another one.

If you are experiencing any signs of an ectopic pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately.

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Ectopic Pregnancy : Strictly Anything

Tubal Pregnancy In The Nutshell

March 12th, 2010

A tubal pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg fails to reach its destination – the uterus – and instead becomes implanted in a fallopian tube. Tubal pregnancy is a life threatening situation for the mother and/or the baby. Therefore, whenever it is diagnosed, patient is recommended to get treatment immediately to remove the fertilized tissue.

If you are diagnosed with a tubular, a.k.a. tubal, a.k.a. ectopic, pregnancy, you have a couple of treatment options, but no matter which method is used, the ultimate result is the same. that is, removal of the foetal tissue. it is impossible for an ectopic pregnancy to be a viable pregnancy; the fallopian tube cannot sustain a pregnancy. Without treatment, the tube will rupture and the resulting excessive bleeding can lead to the death of the mother. all ectopic pregnancies must be treated, even though that may result in the damage or loss of a fallopian tube. If the pregnancy is determined to be tubal early enough, you may be able to avoid surgery by having an injection of methotrexate instead. Methotrexate ceases the growth of the egg and the cells are generally absorbed back into the bloodstream by the body.

If the use of medication is not an option or is unsuccessful, you will need to have surgery to remove the abnormal pregnancy. This may be laparoscopic surgery or the more “traditional” surgery involving general anaesthesia and an incision in the abdomen. Sometimes the surgery is emergency surgery; such would be the case if you are having a lot of bleeding or if the fallopian tube has already burst. most doctors will attempt to save the tube if possible, but the primary purpose is to ensure the life and well being of the mother, so if it is necessary, the tube may be removed.
Discovery or Diagnosis

In the very early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, the symptoms are just like those of a healthy pregnancy. A little morning sickness, some breast tenderness, being tired, and missed periods – the same symptoms that lead to the pregnancy diagnosis. A little bit into the pregnancy, however, some other signs that the pregnancy may be ectopic may occur. Such symptoms include cramping or pain in the abdomen, spotting, and dizziness or light-headedness. If the pregnancy is not determined ectopic until the tube actually ruptures, the symptoms include severe, sharp, or sudden pain.

If you know you are pregnant or it is possible that you are pregnant, it is imperative that you seek medical care if you have any of the above symptoms, as ectopic pregnancies can have severe consequences. the earlier the tubular pregnancy is discovered, the more successful and less invasive treatment can be.

Tubal Pregnancy In The Nutshell

pregnancy complications…?

March 10th, 2010

I have been in the hospital ALL day. I am having bleeding and I am said to be around 5 weeks pregnant.

They were un-able to tell me much at the hospital, they are sending me in for a follow up on Saturday. I DO know that according to the doctor, during my ultra sound, they were unable to see a baby. she said that could mean 3 things:

1. im too early on… earlier on than we thought
2. Tubal pregnancy
3. Possible misscarrage… beginning stage.

The lady who gave me the ultra sound told me she wasnt supposed to tell me this and she showed me what appeared to her as being a forming sack.

If this was a tubal pregnancy, would I be able to see the sack?
im hoping this just means I am early on

pregnancy complications…?