What is an ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that is growing in the wrong place. The fertilized egg got stuck in the fallopian tube instead of traveling to the uterus. This can be dangerous because there is not enough room in the tube for the pregnancy to grow. Within a few weeks, the pregnancy tissue will grow so much that the tube will burst, causing serious internal bleeding. It is very important to diagnose and treat an ectopic pregnancy before it bursts.

The three major signs of ectopic pregnancy are: one-sided lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and a positive pregnancy test. The pain is caused by stretching of the fallopian tube; that's why it is usually on one side only. The ectopic pregnancy does not grow normally and that leads to the vaginal bleeding. Any time you have one-sided lower abdominal pain in the first trimester, it raises the possibility of ectopic pregnancy.

In an ectopic the levels of pregnancy hormone (HCG) in the blood do not rise appropriately. In a normal pregnancy, the level of HCG will double approximately every 48 hours. In an ectopic pregnancy, the level can be very erratic, rising and falling and rising again.

Ultrasound is helpful in diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy. If ultrasound shows the baby in the uterus, it is a normal pregnancy. However, an empty uterus, along with a mass (growth) near the ovary can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy. The ectopic pregnancy might not be seen on the ultrasound. It can even rupture the tube before it is large enough to be seen .

An ectopic pregnancy must be treated. If the fallopian tube is already bleeding, surgery is the only treatment. The pregnancy tissue can be removed from the fallopian tube through the laparoscope, inserted in a small incision near the belly button. In the case of severe bleeding, emergency surgery can be performed quickly through a regular abdominal incision.

If there is no bleeding, an ectopic pregnancy can be treated with an injection of methotrexate. Methotrexate is a form of chemotherapy and it will kill the pregnancy tissue. The body will then absorb the tissue.

The most common cause of ectopic pregnancy is a previous pelvic infection that has scarred the fallopian tubes, many cases of ectopic pregnancy have no obvious cause. A woman who has had an ectopic pregnancy has an increased risk (approximately 10%) of another ectopic pregnancy in the future, so she should be monitored carefully at the beginning of any future pregnancies.