You may have heard of an ectopic pregnancy before, but do you understand exactly what this is and the severity?
Keep reading to learn more about this pregnancy complication, how dangerous it may be for you, and how you can identify it.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy, also known as an extrauterine pregnancy, happens when a fertilised egg grows outside of the main cavity of a woman's uterus.
About 2 in 100 pregnancies are ectopic pregnancies.
A tubal pregnancy is one of the most common types of ectopic pregnancies and it happens when the egg gets stuck on its way to the uterus.
This is often a result of a damaged fallopian tube or other mishappens.
Rupture
Your fetus growing outside of the uterus may cause your fallopian tube to burst or rupture.
As such, your ectopic pregnancy cannot proceed as normal.
Not only can the fetus not survive on its own due to lack of blood and nutrients, but any rupture or burst may cause life-threatening bleeding if left untreated.
Identifying an ectopic pregnancy as early as possible is extremely important for your health and safety.
How do I know if I have an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancies tend to happen within the first few weeks of your pregnancy.
Some women may not even realise they are pregnant when the egg has been implanted.
As the fetus gets larger and requires more from you, you will notice more and more symptoms and complications.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are characteristic of usual early symptoms of pregnancy, which may cause it to be overlooked.
Serious symptoms may not show up until there is a rupture. Ideally, you want to catch the complication before it gets to that point.
Signs of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Severe, constant pain in the lower abdomen
- Upset stomach and vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Pain on one side of your body, such as your shoulder or neck
- Pain in your rectum
- Dizziness or weakness
Can I survive an ectopic pregnancy?
The fertilised egg cannot survive outside of the uterus, therefore your doctor will need to remove it to avoid any serious health complications.
The fetus may be removed by medication or surgery, depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy and where the fetus is positioned.
Your treatment will also depend on if your fallopian tubes have ruptured or not.
After the fetus has been removed, you are physically in the clear.
Getting pregnant again
If there was no serious damage to your fallopian tubes or any part of your uterus, you may go on to have a successful pregnancy after your ectopic one.
If your fallopian tubes were damaged or ruptured, you should consult with a fertility specialist on how to proceed with having another pregnancy.
If you aren't interested in becoming pregnant again after your ectopic pregnancy, once it has been removed, you can go on to having a safe, normal life.
How do I prevent an ectopic pregnancy from happening?
There is no way to know that you’ll have an ectopic pregnancy.
However, there are a few factors that may make you more at risk.
These factors include if you:
- have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or any sexually transmitted infection
- have scarring from pelvic surgery
- are older than 35 years
- are going through fertility treatment- whether fertility drugs or have done in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- have had your tubes tied or tried to reverse your tubes being tied
- have in an intrauterine (IUD) device for birth control
- smoke cigarettes
- have had a previous ectopic pregnancy.
The only real prevention methods would include protection from contracting an STD and avoiding smoking.
Otherwise, there is really no clear way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy.
Contact your gynaecologist
Ectopic pregnancies are common and easily treated.
If you have any of the above symptoms or have concerns about your likelihood of having an ectopic pregnancy, consult with your gynaecologist for more information.
This article is brought to you by Dr Kevin Henry, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and Director at Women's World Medical Suites in Kingston. To book an appointment, visit www.drkevinhenry.com or call (876) 978 7803.