Although rare, an ectopic pregnancy can have serious, life-threatening consequences. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus.
Learn about how pregnancies become ectopic, who is most likely to have one, and how you can tell if the location of a pregnancy is safe.
What Makes a Pregnancy Ectopic?
In a normal pregnancy, an egg travels through a fallopian tube from the ovaries to the uterus. Once fertilized, it attaches to the lining of the uterus, where it begins to grow.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Often, it implants and begins to grow in a fallopian tube. This is referred to as a tubal pregnancy. Experts estimate that 90% of ectopic pregnancies happen in the fallopian tube.
On rare occasions, an ectopic pregnancy can occur in the ovary, abdominal cavity, or cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus. No matter where it implants, if it is outside the uterus, the pregnancy cannot continue normally.
Only the uterus is designed to hold a growing pregnancy. If it is ectopic, it can cause severe bleeding, infection, and even death as it continues to grow.
What Are the Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy?
In the beginning, many women with an ectopic pregnancy have symptoms of early pregnancy, such as a missed period, breast tenderness, and nausea, or they have no symptoms at all.
The first warning sign is usually light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. A woman may also experience lower back pain, dizziness, or weakness.
Usually, an ectopic pregnancy is discovered within the first trimester. If left untreated, it continues to grow and can cause the fallopian tube to rupture. This can result in life-threatening internal bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy needs prompt medical treatment, usually with medication or surgery.
Signs of a rupture can include sudden, sharp lower abdominal pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, or fainting. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Who Is Most Likely to Have an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Some risk factors that increase your chance of having an ectopic pregnancy include the following:
- A previous ectopic pregnancy.
- Surgery on the fallopian tubes, including tubal ligation, or other pelvic surgery.
- A sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.
- A history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause scar tissue on the fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and cervix.
- Infertility or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Endometriosis.
- An IUD in place at the time of conception.
- Smoking.
One study even suggests that women with a prepregnancy depression diagnosis were at slightly higher risk for an ectopic pregnancy.
How Can I Tell If I Have an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Your healthcare provider cannot diagnose an ectopic pregnancy just by examining you. Usually, it can be determined if your pregnancy is ectopic with blood tests and an ultrasound.
If you’re currently pregnant, you want to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. Come to McDowell Pregnancy Care Center. All of our services are free of charge.
We’ll start with a lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm your first test results. Then, we’ll provide an ultrasound. If you are at least five to six weeks pregnant, the ultrasound can locate your pregnancy’s position. If the ultrasound can’t confirm where your pregnancy is, we’ll refer you to a medical provider for further evaluation.
Find Peace of Mind at McDowell
You’ll have a lot of questions when you discover you’re pregnant. Get peace of mind and answers from McDowell’s professional team.
We want to help you protect your health and safety. Fill out our confidential online contact form or call (828) 652-7676 to schedule an appointment. We’re always here for you.