Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside a woman’s uterus (womb). Ectopic means “out of place.” Normally, after fertilization (i.e. after the egg and sperm have become united), an embryo (the combined egg and sperm) implants itself inside a woman’s uterus and begins to grow and develop. Occasionally, however, the embryo may accidentally […]

It’s important to remember that in most cases of ectopic pregnancy, the cause is unknown. However, several factors can raise your risk for an ectopic pregnancy: Fallopian tube problems Smoking Surgery Medications Fallopian Tube Problems The fallopian tubes are five- to six-inches long and have funnel-shaped endings. They are designed to pick up the egg

If you show up at a doctor’s office with irregular or missed periods, or at an emergency room with pelvic pain, the first test a doctor will perform is a urine test for pregnancy. A negative pregnancy test will exclude ectopic pregnancy. A positive pregnancy test will establish the presence of a pregnancy but not

An ectopic pregnancy cannot be prevented. The single most important way to avoid serious consequences is for the ectopic pregnancy to be diagnosed at an early stage (before six weeks of pregnancy). Early diagnosis can preserve your future fertility and perhaps save you from painful and dangerous complications if the ectopic pregnancy ruptures the fallopian

It is important to realize that an ectopic pregnancy can never grow into a normal baby. Furthermore, it cannot be transplanted into the womb and survive. If the ectopic pregnancy is not very far along, it may be able to be removed with an injection of a drug called methotrexate. Methotrexate dissolves the fertilized egg

If an ectopic pregnancy is caught and treated at an early stage, the results are encouraging. If the fallopian tube has not ruptured and is saved, the chance for a future normal pregnancy is 50 percent, with a 15-percent chance of a repeat tubal pregnancy. After a second ectopic pregnancy, the risk for a third

Here are some frequently asked questions related to ectopic pregnancy: Q: I had a pelvic infection from chlamydia years ago, and now I’m a few weeks pregnant. My doctor told me to keep a close watch for symptoms such as bleeding or abdominal pain. Why? A: Pelvic infections from STDs such as chlamydia can cause scarring

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to ectopic pregnancy: The rate of ectopic pregnancy in the United States and worldwide has quadrupled since 1970 and now occurs in almost 2% of all pregnancies. This is partly due to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which