How Can You Tell If You Have an Ectopic Pregnancy?

22.07.2010 | By: I. M.

An ectopic pregnancy can be very dangerous. A pregnant woman can even bleed to death in several hours.

An ectopic pregnancy can cause serious complications. (Photoxpress)

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

As the term implies – an ectopic pregnancy means a pregnancy that develops outside the womb. It occurs if a fertilised egg is not implanted normally in the womb, but it starts developing elsewhere, in the lower part of your abdomen. The embryo of such a conception is abnormal and cannot develop into the fetus. The egg is most often implanted in the fallopian tubes, and it can also often stop in the ovaries or is implanted in the bowel. You can tell if you have an ectopic pregnancy within 5 to 10 weeks into the pregnancy and it may cause serious complications, such as bleeding. Namely, the growth of a fertilised egg also expands the ovaries, which causes a rupture or tear. As the main artery is located along the ovaries, the expansion can be very dangerous because it can tear the artery, thus causing heavy bleeding.

Causes of ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg doesn’t continue moving towards the womb, but it stops in the fallopian tubes. The egg stops if the fallopian tube is damaged, scratched or twisted. If you had any infections of the fallopian tubes, such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea, you are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. If you had any operation in the lower abdomen in the past, for example, on your fallopian tubes, ovaries, womb or bowel, you are also more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. In addition, previous ectopic pregnancies increase the risk of another ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and when to seek medical assistance

The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are rather similar to the symptoms of an abortion. This type of pregnancy can sometimes cause complications. They often occur in the form of pains in the lower abdomen and vaginal bleeding. In severe cases they require urgent medical assistance, other symptoms are dizziness, paleness, sweating and an increased heart rate. Women suffering from heavy vaginal bleeding need urgent medical assistance, otherwise they can bleed to death in mere two hours.

Medical examination and treatment

In case of pain and vaginal bleeding, a woman is put on an oxygen mask and undergoes blood tests. The doctor will also do a gynaecological examination and probably use ultrasound to determine where the pregnancy has developed. If a woman bleeds heavily and her life is in danger, she is immediately rushed into the operation room. As an ectopic pregnancy is not a normal pregnancy and does not enable the baby to develop, the doctor will suggest the best method of treatment. If the pregnancy is located in the fallopian tubes, the doctor usually prescribes drugs to prevent the growth of tissue that the body excretes in time. In addition, blood tests have to be performed every three days and women who have received a treatment for an ectopic pregnancy report on pains in the lower abdomen and vaginal bleeding similar to a heavier period. An ectopic pregnancy is treated surgically, by laparoscopy, which usually requires a small incision in the lower part of the abdomen through which the tissue is removed. Sometimes the surgeon has to make a large incision, and in some cases, where the fallopian tube is damaged severely, the whole tube needs to be removed.