Ectopic Pregnancy – Cause, Symptoms and Treatment
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, hence the name ectopic, meaning “in the wrong place”. It is a fairly common condition, affecting one in every 80 pregnancies in the UK each year.
It’s important for every woman to know what ectopic pregnancy is and how to recognise ectopic pregnancy symptoms.
Cause
With an ectopic pregnancy the fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, often in a fallopian tube (known as a tubal pregnancy). It can also occur in an ovary, in the abdominal space or in the cervix (neck of the womb). There are several factors that can make an ectopic pregnancy more likely. These include:
o An infection in the womb, fallopian tubes or ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease) or inflammation of the fallopian tubes
o Endometriosis affecting the fallopian tubes can cause an ectopic pregnancy
o Taking fertility medicine to stimulate ovulation
o An abnormally-shaped fallopian tube, whether natural or from scarring following surgery
o Older age
o A previous ectopic pregnancy (the risk increases from one in 100 to one in ten if you have had an ectopic pregnancy before
It is often the case that women who have an ectopic pregnancy don’t experience any symptoms and the condition is only revealed in an early scan or if the fallopian tube ruptures.
If there are symptoms, they usually appear between weeks five and 14 of the pregnancy and include:
o Persistent and severe pain on one side of the abdomen
o Vaginal bleeding that is either bright or dark red in colour, which starts and stops. The bleeding can often be mistaken for a normal period.
o Pain where the shoulder ends and the arm begins, usually occurring when lying down. This can be a sign that the ectopic pregnancy is causing internal bleeding. It is thought that the bleeding irritates a nerve in the diaphragm causing referred pain in the shoulder
o Pain when passing urine or stools
o Diarrhoea and vomiting
o Feeling faint and light-headed can be a sign of ‘collapse’, a serious symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. This can occur if the fallopian tube has ruptured, causing dangerous internal bleeding. Other symptoms of collapse can include feeling sick, paleness and an increased heart rate.
Treatment
Unfortunately, the baby cannot be saved in an ectopic pregnancy. However, if it is diagnosed before the fallopian tube ruptures, the pregnancy can be safely ended using medication or surgery.
If the symptoms are mild or non-existent, it can be best to delay treatment and monitor development as many embryos die in an ectopic pregnancy without medical intervention.
If the fallopian tube ruptures, emergency surgery will be needed and this often means the fallopian tube has to be removed. Internal bleeding can prove fatal.
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