We have heard of several issues surrounding pregnancy - miscarriages, fibroid, late delivery - and these are just the basic and common issues we know. But ectopic pregnancy is a pretty odd case on a whole different level!
Ectopic pregnancy, also known as extrauterine or tubal pregnancy, describes a situation where a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus - mostly the fallopian tube. Meaning that you are pregnant with a baby, but not in your womb. That’s crazy!
Ectopic pregnancies occur in different kinds and we can classify them according to where precisely the fertilized egg implants.
Tubal pregnancy is the most frequent case of ectopic pregnancy. It happens when the fertilized egg embeds in the fallopian tube. The type of tubal pregnancy depends on where precisely implantation occurs in the fallopian tube.
Non-tubal pregnancy constitutes about 2% of all ectopic pregnancies where implantation occurs in other areas, including the cervix, ovary, and intra-stomach regions.
In irregular cases where more than one egg fertilizes, one may implant in the uterus while the other elsewhere. Due to the painful nature of ectopic pregnancy, doctors usually discover it before the intrauterine pregnancy.
The pregnancy in the womb may still be feasible even after removing the ectopic pregnancy, but only if human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels continue to rise.
Symptoms
At first, the signs of ectopic pregnancy are not noticeable. The woman will only experience the usual symptoms of pregnancy - missed period, vomiting/nausea, and slight breast pain.
As the ectopic pregnancy develops, these symptoms begin to show.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do well to contact your doctor or seek quality medical attention.
Sometimes, as the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus, it gets stuck, often because of inflammation or damage to the fallopian tube - leading to an ectopic pregnancy.
Every sexually active woman is at risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, but some habits and medical history can increase one’s risk.
Risk factors include;
The uterus is the only suitable place a baby can develop normally. So outside the uterus, it's a lost cause and a life-threatening situation.
If the pregnancy doesn’t terminate spontaneously - as conditions outside the uterus are unsuitable - a surgical procedure is done to remove the pregnancy, or a medication is given. The treatment method depends on the symptoms and when pregnancy is discovered.
One of the common medications your doctor may prescribe is Methotrexate (Rheumatrex). Methotrexate stops the development of rapidly dividing cells, like that of an ectopic pregnancy.
If the drug is effective, one may experience signs of miscarriage like bleeding, cramps, and passing of the tissue.
The side effect is that the recipient might not be able to get pregnant for several months. But it doesn’t come with the risks of damage to the fallopian tube as surgery.
Removal of ectopic pregnancy is through a surgical procedure called Laparotomy. The surgeon inserts a small camera through an incision to enable a clear view. The surgeon then removes the embryo and repairs the fallopian tube.
In cases where the laparotomy is unsuccessful, the patient undergoes the procedure again. If there is damage to the tubes, it is removed.
There is no hard and fast rule or ‘to-do’ list on how to run away from an ectopic pregnancy and prevent it from coming close to you and your generation. But there are habits you need to break and others you need to make to decrease your risk of having one to the barest minimum.
Ectopic pregnancy is not something you write on your birthday wishlist. It isn’t just an abnormal situation, but it is also a medical emergency that poses a threat to your health.
If you are exhibiting any symptoms, do well to see your doctor. If you have these symptoms and the medical histories, run! Run to the clinic as fast as you can and seek medical attention.
Finally, if you do not have medical histories or symptoms associated with ectopic pregnancy - prevention is still better than cure. Keep that in mind, and you’re good to go.
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