Risks of Ectopic Pregnancy

Hi

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. This can be very dangerous because a tubal pregnancy can rupture the fallopian tube, causing uncontrolled bleeding. This uncontrolled bleeding is a serious medical emergency that if left untreated can lead to shock, and even death.

In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo cannot be left to grow to much longer—therefore the developing cells must be removed. The most common treatments involve making a small incision in the lower abdomen (just below the belly-button) to remove the developing cells from where they have implanted, usually in the fallopian tube.

If the embryo or fetus has already developed to a stage where it has ruptured the fallopian tube, the woman must be under immediate and emergency medical care; and surgery must be done to stop the blood loss.

If the doctor determines that the ectopic pregnancy will not rupture, the woman can be given a drug called methotrexate (which terminates the pregnancy) and monitored.

Best of health to you all.

Great answer, Sexpert. 2 thumbs up to you.

i just learnt about that at school.

if you wait to long, it will end up killing the baby, and even yourself.

An ectopic pregnancy is not dangerous for the baby, exactly.  However, it is very dangerous for the mother which if not removed will end up killing her along with the baby.

If a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, it's called an ectopic pregnancy. One in 50 pregnancies ends this way.

Here's how it happens: After conception, the fertilized egg travels down your fallopian tube on its way to your uterus. If the tube is damaged or blocked and fails to propel the egg toward your womb, the egg may become implanted in the tube and continue to develop there. Because almost all ectopic pregnancies occur in one of the fallopian tubes, they're often called "tubal" pregnancies.

Much less often, an egg implants in an ovary, in the cervix, directly in the abdomen, or even in a c-section scar. In rare cases, a woman has a normal pregnancy in her uterus and an ectopic pregnancy at the same time. This is called a heterotopic pregnancy and it's more likely to happen if you've had fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization.

There's no way to transplant an ectopic (literally, "out of place") pregnancy into your uterus, so ending the pregnancy is the only option. In fact, if an ectopic pregnancy isn't recognized and treated, the embryo will grow until the fallopian tube ruptures, resulting in severe abdominal pain and bleeding. It can cause permanent damage to the tube or loss of the tube, and if it involves very heavy internal bleeding that's not treated promptly, it can even lead to death. Fortunately, the vast majority of ectopic pregnancies are caught in time.

An ectopic pregnancy generally occurs in the course of assisted conception treatments . Hence it is usually diagnosed very early, allowing a choice between two forms of treatment: laparoscopic surgery to remove the ectopic or an injection of methotrexate to dissolve it.