Ectopic pregnancy

A normal pregnancy begins with the fertilization of an egg. This fertilized egg is called a zygote. The zygote normally attaches to the side of the uterus. In an ectopic pregnancy, the zygote implants elsewhere. The oviduct carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. More than 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the oviduct. This is called a tubal pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can also occur in the abdominal cavity, in the ovaries or at the end of the uterus.
Ectopic pregnancies cannot progress normally. Embryo development cannot continue and the growing placenta tissue can damage important maternal structures. If left untreated, serious life-threatening blood loss can occur. For every 100 pregnancies, one or two may be ectopic. Fortunately, with early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of a healthy pregnancy are increasing.
Symptoms and Signs
At first, ectopic pregnancy may seem normal. Early signs and symptoms are the same as in normal pregnancy, such as delayed menstruation, breast tenderness, loss of appetite and nausea. Abdominal or groin pain is often the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy. You may feel pain in your lower abdomen or groin or cramps on one side of your groin. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is also quite common. If your oviduct ruptures, you may feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your groin or abdomen. This pain can even spread to your shoulder or neck. You may feel dizzy and faint. If you have any of these symptoms, contact the emergency room immediately.
Causes
An ectopic pregnancy is usually caused by a structural defect in the female reproductive system or a defect in the timing of certain reproductive events. If the oviduct is damaged or compromised in some way, the egg’s passage through it may be delayed and it may choose this site for implantation. However, the cause of ectopic pregnancy is often unknown.
Risk Factors
More than 50% of women with a history of ectopic pregnancy have had inflammation of the oviduct, uterus or ovaries. Other factors can be listed as follows;
– Endometriosis, a condition in which the uterine tissue is found in a place other than its normal location
– Abdominal surgery (the area in the lower abdomen where the intestine, uterus, ovaries and ovarian duct are located)
– A different shape of the ovarian duct
– Problems with conception
– Taking medication to induce ovulation
– Having a spiral in the uterus or using birth control pills (it is very rare to become pregnant with properly used birth control pills, but if pregnancy has occurred, there is a high probability that it is an ectopic pregnancy)
If you have had an ectopic pregnancy once, you have a high chance of having it again. After one ectopic pregnancy, there is a 10% chance of it happening again. If it happens a second time, the risk increases even more and the chance is more than 50%. But a normal pregnancy is also possible. Even if one of your ducts is damaged or removed, the other duct will still function. If both of your ducts have these problems, you will have a chance of having IVF. In this case, your eggs will be fertilized in the laboratory and implanted in your uterus.
Application
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, emergency treatment is needed. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact the emergency room immediately;
Abdominal pain
Vaginal bleeding
Dizziness
Dizziness
Problems that may arise
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you are in a very dangerous situation. At the end of treatment, you may lose your reproductive organs and fertility. If left untreated, your condition will worsen and your burst oviduct can lead to life-threatening bleeding.
Treatment
The fertilized egg cannot grow outside the uterus. To avoid life-threatening situations, removal of this tissue is inevitable. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected early, when the zygote is small and has not yet caused bleeding, medication is used to stop the cell growth and destroy the existing cells. If the pregnancy persists despite treatment, surgery may be needed. Laparoscopy is a common option. In this case, your doctor will make a small incision in your abdomen at or below the navel. He or she will insert a thin tube (laparoscope) with a camera and light at the end to see the area.
Other instruments will be inserted either through this tube or through other small incisions to remove the ectopic pregnancy tissue and repair your oviduct. If it is very bad and cannot be repaired, it may need to be removed. If your oviduct has burst, emergency surgery will be done through an incision in your abdomen. In some cases, the oviduct can be repaired. But most of the time it will need to be removed. After treatment, your doctor will monitor the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin) in your blood. If the level remains high, it means that the ectopic pregnancy tissue could not be completely removed. In this case, a second operation or medication will be necessary.
Prevention
You cannot prevent ectopic pregnancy. But you can reduce some of the risks. For example, you can protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms. If you have had an ectopic pregnancy, talk to your doctor before you get pregnant again. If you become pregnant, he or she will carefully monitor whether your pregnancy continues as normal.
Aftermath
The end of your pregnancy (even if you only know about it for a few days) is very distressing. Understand your situation and give yourself time. Talk about your feelings and get support from your partner, relatives and friends. Most women who have an ectopic pregnancy have another normal pregnancy. If you are going to get pregnant again, listen carefully to your doctor’s advice. Early ultrasound scans can show whether your pregnancy is developing normally.
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