Ectopic Pregnancy
No woman wants to hear that they are having an ectopic pregnancy. It’s sad and it’s stressful for any woman and for her partner. An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg does not attach itself to the uterus but instead attaches itself to the fallopian tubes. It can also attach itself to the abdominal cavity or to the cervix. It is not always clear why an ectopic pregnancy occurs – it can be bad luck – but anyone having an ectopic pregnancy must get help immediately. A baby cannot survive an ectopic pregnancy but a woman can survive one, provided she is under medical care.
Possible causes of an ectopic pregnancy
As we said above, sometimes there is no cause for an ectopic pregnancy; it just happens. It can be heartbreaking for a woman, as can any miscarriage. Some of the causes linked to an ectopic pregnancy can include, but not necessarily be caused by:-
• Previous infection of the fallopian tubes
• Hormonal factors
• Genetics
• Endometriosis
• Unknown reproductive medical conditions
The most important thing is to seek help. A gynecologist will treat you, may have to operate on you, and will also, talk to you about the future. Some women come out of ectopic pregnancies relatively unscarred and able to give birth easily to future babies. Others have a harder time. Only your doctor can tell you what to expect.
How to recognise an ectopic pregnancy
It is easy for women to feel anxious during their pregnancy, especially during a first pregnancy. They worry because that is the nature of pregnancy! If you suspect something is wrong, see your gynecologist. It doesn’t matter if your worries are unfounded – rather seek help.
You may not always recognize an ectopic pregnancy but the bottom line is, if you are in pain, see your doctor. If you cannot get an emergency appointment, go to the casualty department of the nearest hospital. When we say pain, we do not mean the normal cramps or tenderness that can be related to pregnancy, but rather, fairly extreme pain.
Some of the ectopic pregnancy symptoms can include:-
• Vaginal spotting, accompanied by abdominal cramps and / or severe abdominal pain.
• Severe sharp waves of body pain.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Pressure on the rectum.
• Extreme shoulder, neck or pelvis pain.
• Extreme nausea and / or vomiting
When do you know if pregnancy pain is normal?
The only advice we can give to women is that if ever you are worried, consult your doctor. Why wait? Your doctor, or should we say gynecologist, will know if you are in trouble or not. A gynecologist will perform an examination and will know immediately if you are having an ectopic pregnancy. While this pregnancy cannot be saved, getting immediate help means you will be okay. Ignoring an ectopic pregnancy can be disastrous for your own health.
Are older women more at risk for ectopic pregnancies?
Actually, any women can have an ectopic pregnancy, but remember that the figures or statistics are pretty low. Older women may be more at risk, but then their odds are more risky anyway. If a woman has had an ectopic pregnancy before, she may have another one. But it does not mean she will have another one at all. Some women have fallopian tubes that are structurally different – they are the women who are in danger of ectopics.
Treating ectopic pregnancy
How does a gynecologist treat an ectopic pregnancy
The gynecologist has to remove the embryo. It cannot survive if it is not attached to the uterus. The embryo can be removed in a number of ways, depending on how bad the ectopic pregnancy is. Your gynecologist will tell you exactly what needs to be done, but it may be a medicinal intervention and it may be a surgical intervention. A good doctor / gynecologist will do his or her best to ensure your chances of falling pregnant again are good.
It can take time to recover from an ectopic pregnancy, in the same way it can take time to recover from a miscarriage of any sorts. A woman should always give herself time, both physically and emotionally. This is when self-care is important. Again, your gynecologist will tell you what to expect in the recovery process – you might be one of the lucky ones and recover within a day or two, but you may need time in bed and taking it easy. You may also be sore, swollen, tender and encounter some bleeding.
If you do have an ectopic pregnancy:-
• Get help immediately.
• Remember, it is a horrible thing to go through but with help, you will be okay.
• There are various kinds of ectopic pregnancies
• Your baby cannot survive an ectopic pregnancy but you can!
• It is not all doom and gloom. Chances are, you will be able to have another baby.
And remember, if at any time you are worried about your pregnancy, see your gynecologist quickly. Even if just to be reassured that everything is okay!
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