Pregnancy and Birthing

Tom Smith asked:


Ectopic pregnancy is not a normal pregnancy, the sperms reach the egg in the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs, and then, this fertilized egg travels on to reach the uterus and implants itself there to complete the gestation period. The fertilized egg fails to reach the uterus for the gestation period and instead implant itself anywhere outside uterus, like cervix, fallopian tube, abdominal cavity. In general, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube.

Symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy is usually diagnosed around six weeks of pregnancy. Your spouse should consult her obstetrician if she has any of the following symptoms:

Pain or tenderness in the abdomen or pelvis, especially while coughing or moving bowels, and which may become more severe or chronic with time

Vaginal bleeding

Shoulder pain, especially while lying down

Lower abdominal pain, which increases over a period of time, accompanied by lower back pain

Shoulder pain, which occurs, as the fetus draws blood for its growth, hampers the functions of diaphragm.

Ectopic pregnancy symptoms can include vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and severe abdominal pain. Other ectopic pregnancy symptoms are quite similar to the normal signs of being pregnant. These include nausea or morning sickness, tiredness, a missed menstrual period, and breast tenderness. This can make diagnosis somewhat difficult.

If you have symptoms of bleeding and stomach pain, be sure to see your doctor immediately. They can determine if you have tubal pregnancy from a simple blood test or an ultrasound. The key is early detection. If it can be treated early on, then the risks to your health and future pregnancies are greatly reduced. By keeping yourself aware of the signs of ectopic pregnancy you can eliminate potential health risks.

Though in many cases, the causes are unknown, the most common factors that lead to the risk of Ectopic pregnancy symptoms are fallopian tube problems, which can be due to pelvic infections (sexually transmitted diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease), intrauterine contraceptive devices, and endometriosis. Smoking, abdominal surgeries involving the reproductive system and several hormonal drugs like fertility drugs, contraceptive hormonal medication have also been associated with Ectopic pregnancies.

Slow rising hCG levels: Your doctor may run a quantitative hCG test in early pregnancy if you are having vaginal spotting or if he suspects ectopic pregnancy. Slow rising hCG levels can be an indicator of an ectopic pregnancy. During a normal pregnancy, hCG levels will double every two to three days in early pregnancy. With an ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels may rise but they tend to go up very slowly and not double like they should. If your hCG levels are low or not doubling your doctor may order more blood work or an ultrasound to rule out ectopic pregnancy or other complications.

Cramping: Mild cramping during early pregnancy is normal, but severe cramping or cramping accompanied with spotting, is not normal and could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Cramping may be on one side or may feel like menstrual cramps.



Hailey

peterhutch asked:


 

Ectopic pregnancy is not a normal pregnancy. In normal pregnancy, the sperms reach the egg in the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs and then, this fertilized egg travels on to reach the uterus and implants itself there to complete the gestation period. However, in ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg fails to reach the uterus for the gestation period and instead implant itself anywhere outside uterus, like cervix, fallopian tube, abdominal cavity. In general, in ectopic pregnancy cases, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube.

Causes of Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs as a result of the fertilized egg’s inability to travel down the fallopian tube and into the uterus. This may be caused by an infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, or swelling that has formed an obstruction inside the tube.

Tubal surgery - women who have had operations on their tubes are more at risk of ectopic. This includes tubal ligatoin, reversal of sterilisation or tubal surgery for a previous ectopic.

Previous ectopic - about 10-20% of those attempting pregnancy after one ectopic will have another.

DES exposure - this is a drug that was once used during pregnancy, until it was found that female babies of women who used it were at risk of developmental abnormalities of the genital system. Their tubes are more likely to be abnormal and predisposed to ectopic pregnancy. This is a very rare problem and you would most likely already know about it.

Smoking. Women who smoke or who used to smoke have higher rates of ectopic pregnancy. The more you smoke, the higher your risk.1 Smoking is thought to damage the fallopian tubes’ ability to move the fertilized egg toward the uterus.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), such as from a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection. PID can create scar tissue in the fallopian tubes.

Fallopian tube surgery, often used to reverse a tubal ligation or to repair a scarred or blocked tube.

symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

In many cases, a pregnant woman and her doctor may not at first have any reason to suspect an ectopic pregnancy. The early signs of pregnancy, such as a missed period and other symptoms and signs, also occur in ectopic pregnancies.

Pain is usually the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy. The pain may be in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder and neck (due to blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy building up under the diaphragm). Pain from an ectopic pregnancy is usually described as sharp and stabbing. It may come and go or vary in intensity.

Sharp pain in the abdomen or pelvis

Signs of early pregnancy

Irregular Vaginal bleeding

Abdominal pain on one side of the abdomen

Unexplained dizziness or fainting

Remedy For Ectopic Pregnancy

If the ectopic pregnancy is at initial stage then it can be destroyed by a drug methotrexate, which has very minimum side effects. At advanced level, it can only be treated with the help of surgery, in which the pregnancy will be removed.

After-effects Of Ectopic Preganancy

Due to doses of methotrexate, there will be a little nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

When the surgery is actually performed at advanced level, there might be a decrease in the womans fertility. You must know that your pregnancy is normal or not. You will know the early signs of pregnancy if you monitor your pregnancy week by week. If you find anything unusual, see a doctor at once.



Leah