ECTOPIC PREGNANCY :

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that, for some reason, is located outside of the uterus. The vast majority of ectopic pregnancies (98 percent) occur when the egg implants inside the fallopian tube, and are sometimes known as tubal pregnancies.

Other places in the body that ectopic pregnancies occur include the ovary, cervix, and abdominal cavities. Ectopic pregnancies are also pretty common, occurring in about one in every fifty pregnancies.

What Happens If I Have An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Before the 19th century, ectopic pregnancies ended in death of the mother in more than 50 percent of cases. However, with all of the medical technological advancements that we have today, now the mortality rate of ectopic pregnancy is somewhere around five in 10,000.

Unfortunately, there is no way for an embryo to survive outside of the womb, and there is no way for a baby to survive an ectopic pregnancy. For some women, the ectopic pregnancy resolves on it’s own with no need for medical intervention. However, some women need to have a surgical procedure done to remove the ectopic pregnancy with only a small amount of risk to the mother.

Signs and Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy

Keep in mind that an ectopic pregnancy usually starts out feeling like a normal pregnancy, with symptoms like bloating, nausea, breast tenderness, and a missed period. However, as time progresses, more signs and symptoms show up to indicate that something is not right with the pregnancy.

Light bleeding or spotting is usually one of the very first symptoms, along with stomach pain or pelvic pain. These symptoms usually start showing up around 6-8 weeks after a missed period. As time goes on, a woman might notice severe vaginal bleeding or stomach/pelvic pain that is worse on one side, and gets worse with movement or straining.

 There will also be pain during sexual intercourse, and there might also be dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting caused by internal bleeding. For the most part, the signs of miscarriage are also indicative of the signs of an ectopic pregnancy.

What to Know

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and think that you might be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage, get to a doctor or hospital right away. Keep in mind that there are great risks associated with an ectopic pregnancy.

If the fallopian tube ruptures, a woman can experience severe internal bleeding, and that can lead to shock or even death in severe cases. This is why it is so very important to seek medical attention if you think that you might possibly be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.