When a pregnancy occurs outside the uterus, it is an ectopic pregnancy for women. The situation is because of a fertilized egg implanting in place, which makes it harmful to carry a pregnancy to full term. The location of implantation is usually the fallopian tube. However, for some, it can be the abdominal cavity, ovary, or cervix. You should not continue an extrauterine pregnancy because it will cause rupture to the area and the organs around, resulting in infection, severe bleeding, and death (if left untreated and unremoved).

So, an abdominal pregnancy can be life-threatening. Once detected it should be dealt with at the earliest and treatment. Several surgical options are available for this purpose. Let us learn more about how is an ectopic pregnancy treated and diagnosed, along with other information.

Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms and Complications

In an intrauterine pregnancy occurrence, the egg travels down the fallopian tube and attaches itself to the uterine wall. On the uterus wall, the fertilized egg develops and grows. However, in an ectopic pregnancy, the egg does not go inside the uterus but attaches itself somewhere outside it, the fallopian tubes being the most common location (90%). According to several studies, out of all pregnancies, about 2% of them are extrauterine. You need to terminate such a pregnancy through an invasive procedure.

Remember that abortion pills cannot expel such a pregnancy. So, if you use medicines to end a pregnancy, you will only experience adverse side effects and increased bleeding without getting any required treatment. Let us understand about the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and its complications:

·       The initial symptoms are similar to normal pregnancy like nausea, frequent urination, mood swings, tiredness, etc. However, once the ectopic pregnancy stays for a longer duration, you begin experiencing vaginal bleeding.

·       Other signs are dizziness, weakness, and severe pain in the lower abdomen/lower back/pelvis. Once the fallopian tubes rupture as the egg develops, it leads to profuse bleeding and serious pain.

·       A surgical pregnancy termination rather than a medical abortion is suitable to restrict an ectopic pregnancy and its complications such as shoulder pain, fainting, rectal pressure, low blood pressure, bowel problems, etc.

·       After the fallopian tubes burst, you may encounter sharp pain in the lower abdomen and internal bleeding. It is recommended to seek emergency care in such a scenario and look for immediate treatment.

What Causes an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Before sharing further details, we wish to inform you that abortion with pills is not the way out for an extrauterine pregnancy. Many women do not check for the pregnancy location and use the medicines in the hope of ending the conception. However, that is not wise. Some ectopic pregnancy causes are adhesions, scars, and inflammation from previous pelvic surgery, born with an irregularly shaped fallopian tube, sexually transmitted infection damaging the fallopian tubes, growth in the fallopian tube causing a blockage, or having an IUD inserted and a pregnancy in this case.

Being a medical emergency, an ectopic pregnancy is something you need a quick solution for. If you have Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills, do not use them for such a pregnancy. To hold off the growing fetus, you need the removal of the implanted egg. Since fallopian tubes cannot keep the pregnancy, the only option is termination through surgery to deter internal bleeding and eventual death. It will also help to keep other organs and the fallopian tubes away from injury.

Diagnosis and Tests for Ectopic Pregnancies

Several tests are available to check for an extrauterine pregnancy. You do not have to wait for symptoms of ectopic pregnancy to happen before looking for treatment. If you suspect a pregnancy, it is best to get a urine test or a blood test to detect the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and a regular pelvic exam. This a pregnancy hormone, and even if it is detected with low levels, it can increase eventually as the fertilized eggs grow. A complete blood count test will aid in showing signs of blood loss, and if a transfusion is necessary.

A more precise way of noting a pregnancy outside the uterus is an ultrasound exam. This test will also help to know how is an ectopic pregnancy treated based on the pregnancy status and its condition. The ultrasound waves show the body’s internal structure, thus, able to tell the implantation location of the fertilized egg. Transvaginal ultrasound apart from the whole abdominal ultrasound, is another diagnostic method.

Risk Factors of an Ectopic Pregnancy

Some women are at a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy and are unaware of the problem. Thus, when a pregnancy occurs and they experience early symptoms, they may use Mifepristone to discontinue the pregnancy. This medicine is usually taken in combination with Misoprostol to empty the uterus for an intrauterine pregnancy. Knowing the risk factors will help detect the problem on time and get treatment. Some of these are:

·       A history of infertility, abdominal pregnancy, endometriosis, in vitro fertilization (IVF), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or scar tissues in the uterus/fallopian tubes/cervix/ovary.

·       A history of smoking tobacco, an intrauterine birth control device in place during pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and surgery of fallopian tubes or organs in the pelvic region.

·       Women over 35 are also at a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy, especially those with reproductive health-related problems.

Treatment Options for an Ectopic Pregnancy

Here are some of the renowned methods for treating an ectopic pregnancy rather than choosing Mifepristone and Misoprostol for medical abortion in this scenario:

·       Methotrexate: This medicine restricts the fertilized egg’s growth and does not let the pregnancy progress. It also saves the fallopian tubes and the pregnancy location from damage. However, if the injury has already taken place, the medicine remains ineffective. The physician will inject Methotrexate and you may require more than one visit to take further injections. The doctor will also keep the pregnancy hormone levels in check with regular tests. It is a non-surgical alternative to treatment.

·       Laparoscopic Procedures: Through small incisions in your abdomen done by the laparoscopic surgeon, he/she may just remove the egg inside, or if the condition has worsened – remove the entire fallopian tubes. You may be put under anesthesia while the surgeon performs the treatment. Salpingostomy and salpingectomy are the two common procedures where a thin tube equipped with a camera lens is inserted through a small incision near the navel but on the abdomen. The camera lens shows the tubal area and the pregnancy condition on a big screen for the doctor to observe and perform the surgery. Depending on the damage and the bleeding, the surgeon takes the next steps for the treatment.

·       Emergency Surgery: Again, this is a laparoscopic surgery done through a small incision in the abdomen, the intention is to stop the heavy bleeding as well as save the fallopian tubes if possible. However, if the fallopian tubes rupture, then they must be removed without delay.

To Conclude

An ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening if not treated. So, it is best to not prolong and continue the extrauterine pregnancy, rather speak to a healthcare provider and get treatment at the earliest.