[b][color=red]OUR TODAY'S TOPIC Z
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY
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What to Know About Ectopic Pregnancy[/color]
In a normal pregnancy, your ovary releases an egg into your
fallopian tube. If the egg meets with a sperm , the fertilized
egg moves into your uterus to attach to its lining and
continues to grow for the next 9 months.
But in up to 1 of every 50 pregnancies, the fertilized egg
stays in your fallopian tube. In that case, it's called an
ectopic pregnancy or a tubal pregnancy. In rare cases, the
fertilized egg attaches to one of your ovaries, another organ
in your abdomen , the cornua (or horn) of the uterus or even
the cervix . In any case, instead of celebrating your
pregnancy, you find your life is in danger. Ectopic
pregnancies require emergency treatment.
Most often, ectopic pregnancy happens within the first few
weeks of pregnancy. You might not even know you're
pregnant yet, so it can be a big shock. Doctors usually
discover it by the 8th week of pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies can be scary and sad. The baby probably
can't survive -- though in extremely rare cases he or she
might. (This is not possible in a tubal pregnancy, cornual or
cervical ) So it's a loss that may take some time to get
over. It may comfort you to know that if you have an
ectopic pregnancy, you'll likely be able to have a healthy
pregnancy in the future.
Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy
Light vaginal bleeding
Nausea and vomiting with pain
Lower abdominal pain
Sharp abdominal cramps
Pain on one side of your body
Dizziness or weakness
Pain in your shoulder , neck, or rectum
If the fallopian tube ruptures, the pain and bleeding
could be severe enough to cause fainting.
If you are experiencing the symptoms listed above, contact
your health care provider immediately and go to the
emergency room. Getting to the hospital quickly is important
to reduce the risk of hemorrhaging (severe bleeding) and to
preserve your fertility .
Causes of an Ectopic Pregnancy
One cause of an ectopic pregnancy is a damaged fallopian
tube that doesn't let a fertilized egg into your uterus, so it
implants in the fallopian tube or somewhere else.
Diagnosing an Ectopic Pregnancy
Once you arrive at the hospital, a pregnancy test , a pelvic
exam, and an ultrasound test may be performed to view the
uterus’ condition and fallopian tubes.
If an ectopic pregnancy has been confirmed, the health care
provider will decide on the best treatment based on your
medical condition and your future plans for pregnancy.
Treating an Ectopic Pregnancy
If the doctor suspects that the fallopian tube has ruptured,
emergency surgery is necessary to stop the bleeding. In some
cases, the fallopian tube and ovary may be damaged and
will have to be removed.
If the fallopian tube has not ruptured and the pregnancy
has not progressed very far, laparoscopic surgery may be all
that is needed to remove the embryo and repair the damage.
A laparoscope is a thin, flexible instrument inserted through
small incisions in the abdomen. During this surgery, a tiny
incision is made in the fallopian tube and the embryo is
removed, preserving the fallopian tube’s integrity.
In some cases, medication may be used to stop the growth
of pregnancy tissue. This treatment option may be
appropriate if the tube is not ruptured and the pregnancy
has not progressed very far.
After medical treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, you will
usually have to have additional blood tests to make sure
that the entire tubal pregnancy was removed. The blood
tests detect the hCG level, the hormone that is produced
during pregnancy.
Getting Pregnant After an Ectopic Pregnancy
Most women who have an ectopic pregnancy have normal
pregnancies and births in the future, even if a fallopian tube
was removed. As long as you have one normally working
fallopian tube, you can get pregnant . If the ectopic
pregnancy was caused by a treatable illness, such as a
sexually transmitted disease, getting treated for it can
improve your chances of a successful pregnancy. The
infection is not what caused the ectopic – it is the scarring
that occurs due to the infection. Treatment of the infection
does not get rid of the damage already done.
Talk with your doctor about how long to wait after an
ectopic pregnancy before trying to conceive again. Some
doctors suggest waiting 3 to 6 months.
After an ectopic pregnancy, take the time you need to heal
your body and mind. Above all, don't blame yourself.
Counseling or pregnancy loss support groups can help you and
your partner cope. Ask your doctor about groups near you[\b]
STAY HEALTHY ALWAYS..[/b]
