Generally, pregnancy begins with an egg called zygote, which attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. But in exceptional circumstances, this egg or zygote implants somewhere else like in the abdomen, ovary or neck of the uterus. This is termed as ectopic pregnancy.
The embryo is not able to get proper nourishment because of its unusual location consequent upon which it fails to survive.
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are:
. Abdominal or pelvic pain
. Mild cramping on one side of the pelvis
. Abnormal vaginal bleeding
. Stabbing pain in pelvis incase fallopian tube ruptures
. Giddiness is also experienced
Causes of ectopic pregnancy:
. Disruption in a woman’s reproductive anatomy
. Timing of specific reproductive events
. Due to some mishap in the fallopian tube
Curbing ectopic pregnancy:
Though there are not a proper set of ways to curb it however, you can prevent it by:
. Limiting your number of sexual partners
. Using prevention during intercourse
To avert life-threatening complication, the ectopic tissue must be removed. If it is detected at an early stage, an injection of methotrexate is given to dissolve and halt the cells growth. If it proves ineffective, more medication is given to the patient.
In case the pregnancy has progressed, laparoscopy becomes the last option.
After the treatment, the doctor again monitors your blood for pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Its high level indicates the presence of ectopic tissue, which requires additional surgery or treatment with methotrexate.
