Ectopic Pregnancy- Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

From fertilization to labour to delivery, there are several steps involved in the pregnancy including the fertilized egg travelling to your uterus so that it can attach itself. But, in some cases, this might fail and the egg isn't able to attach itself to your uterus. It might get attached to the abdominal cavity, cervix, or fallopian tube.
In such cases, the pregnancy test will reveal that you are pregnant. However, you should know that the fertilized egg needs the uterus to grow. It won't be able to grow anywhere else. If this is left untreated, it can lead to an emergency situation. Getting treatment immediately will decrease the risk of complications and increase the chances of healthy pregnancies in the future.

Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy

The most common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are breast soreness and nausea. Other symptoms, that indicate a medical emergency, are:
• Rectal pressure
• Dizziness and fainting
• Light to heavy bleeding or vaginal spotting
• Severe pain occurring in the abdomen
• Sharp pain in the pelvis, abdomen, neck, or shoulder

If you are pregnant and see any of these symptoms, you need to contact the best gynecologist in Hyderabad. At the BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital, we have specialists who have years of experience dealing with ectopic pregnancy and can help you with the same.

Causes of Ectopic Pregnancy

The exact cause behind the ectopic pregnancy is unknown. However, there has been a link between ectopic pregnancy and the following conditions:
• Scarring and inflammation of fallopian tubes caused by the previous infection, condition, or surgery
• Birth defects
• Genetic abnormalities
• Hormonal factors
• Medical conditions affecting the condition and shape of the reproductive organs and fallopian tubes.

To know more about this, you can contact the specialists at the best maternity hospital in Hyderabad, BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital, and get specific details regarding your condition. If you are pregnant, you can contact the doctor to know if you are a risk for an ectopic pregnancy. Here are some factors that can increase the risk:

• Being older than 35 years
• History of multiple abortions, abdominal surgery, or pelvic surgery
• History of endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Conception occurring despite intrauterine device (IUD) or tubal ligation
• Conception done using fertility procedures or drugs
• History of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia or gonorrhea and ectopic pregnancy
• Structural abnormalities of fallopian tubes making it difficult for the fertilized egg to travel
• Smoking

If you think that you are at risk for ectopic pregnancy, you need to consult our specialists immediately. They will work with you to minimize these risks.

Diagnosing an Ectopic Pregnancy

It is not possible to diagnose ectopic pregnancy through a physical examination. But, our specialists will still perform it for ruling out all other factors. The best way for diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy is through a procedure called transvaginal ultrasound. For this, the doctor will insert an instrument inside your vagina and see if the gestational sac is present inside the uterus or not. This might be accompanied by a blood exam for determining your progesterone and hCG levels. If these levels start decreasing or are the same for a couple of days, the pregnancy might be ectopic.

If you are experiencing severe symptoms like significant bleeding or pain, there might not be sufficient time to perform these steps. In extreme cases, the fallopian tubes get ruptured resulting in internal bleeding. Our doctors will then provide immediate treatment by performing emergency surgery. You can rest assured knowing that BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital offers the best gynec surgery in Hyderabad.

Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy

In the case of ectopic pregnancies, the embryo will not be developing to term. Also, these are not safe for mothers. So, it is important to get the embryo out for your fertility and the immediate health of the mother. The development and location of the ectopic pregnancy will determine the treatment option:

1. Medication
If you don't have any immediate complications, the doctor might prescribe medications that will stop the tubal rupture. Once you start taking the medication, you will have to get blood tests regularly to check whether the drug works or not. Also, you will experience symptoms like bleeding, cramping, and tissue passing through your vagina.

2. Surgery
In most cases, the embryo needs to be removed and internal damage must be repaired through a procedure named laparotomy. A small incision will be made for inserting a tiny camera. Then, the surgeon will remove the embryo. In case the surgery is not successful, a second laparotomy will be needed through a bigger incision. If the fallopian tubes are severely damaged, they will be removed as well.

Predicting and preventing an ectopic pregnancy is not always possible. With better reproductive health, you can reduce your risk. This will also help in reducing the risk of STDs. Also, it is important to visit your doctor regularly for STD screenings and gynecological exams. Improving your health by quitting smoking can also be a great preventative strategy.

Regardless of how early it is, pregnancy loss can be emotionally devastating. If you want, you can join some support groups that can help you deal with this loss. Make sure that you take proper rest, eat healthily, and exercise, whenever possible. It is important to give yourself enough time and space to grieve and remember that you can still have a healthy pregnancy in the future. When you feel like you are ready, you can contact the specialists at the BirthRight by Rainbow Hospital to make sure that your next pregnancy is healthy.