|
|
Ectopic Pregnancy: What It
Is
Article
By Angela Kerevarah, CNM
An ectopic pregnancy
happens when the cluster of cells that
will grow into the baby becomes embedded
somewhere outside the womb. In 95 per
cent of cases this will be in one of the
tubes (Fallopian tubes) that link the
ovaries to the womb. The embryo continues
to develop, but the tube cannot stretch
to allow it to grow. If the embryo is in
the widest part of the tube, at the end,
blood will start to leak out through the
end. If it's in the narrow part, the tube
will burst. This is a serious medical
emergency.
What are the Signs?
In the early stages, an ectopic
pregnancy produces signs no different
from those of a normal pregnancy - missed
periods, tender breasts and so on. The
major difference is that an ectopic
pregnancy eventually - usually between
6-10 weeks - causes pain in the lower
abdomen, usually on one side, which may
be accompanied by dark brown bleeding.
If you experience pain, with or
without bleeding, consult your doctor
right away. If you have severe pain,
especially if you also feel dizzy or
faint, go very pale, and your pulse rate
becomes very fast, it's possible that you
have an ectopic pregnancy that has burst
a Fallopian tube. This is an emergency,
and you'll need to be taken to hospital
immediately.
Course of Treament
An ectopic pregnancy isn't always
easy to diagnose, especially if there's
only slight, or no, bleeding. The first
thing the doctor is likely to do if
you're experiencing pain is to examine
you internally. If the diagnosis still
isn't clear you may need to have an
ultrasound scan. In some cases, further
tests may be needed to confirm the
diagnosis.
The usual treatment for an ectopic
pregnancy is for it to be removed under a
general anaesthetic. The tube may have to
be removed too, although this isn't
always necessary. In some cases, if the
ectopic pregnancy is identified early
enough, it may be possible to treat it
using an injection to destroy the cells
rather than by an operation.
What are the Causes?
Sometimes an ectopic pregnancy occurs
for no apparent reason. There's a greater
risk of it happening if you've had a
previous infection in your tubes, or
surgery on them, or if you've been using
an IUD for contraception.
Will it Affect My Changes of
Conceiving Again?
If you have to have one of your tubes
removed for an ectopic pregnancy, as long
as the remaining one is healthy, there's
no reason for you not to have another
normal pregnancy in the future, though it
may take longer to conceive. And having
one ectopic pregnancy doesn't make it any
more likely that you'll have another.
About the Author:
Angela Kerevarah is a certified nurse
midwife, mother of 2 grown children and
soon to be grandmother. She is on the All
About Moms Ask A
Midwife expert panel.
Top of Page
Copyright
© 2001 Angela Kerevarah, All Rights
Reserved Reprinted with Permission
|
