Diagnosing and Treating Ectopic Pregnancy

There are many duties of the human body which are nothing less than terrible; conception and development among them are pre-natal. This miracle of nature is usually effective, but sometimes something happens with the process, which occurs in an ectopic pregnancy. Mayo Clinic estimates that 20 out of 1000 pregnancies result in an ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy results from a fertilized egg not making it to the intended destination of the uterus. Instead, they implant outside the uterus and begin to progress into an area that cannot support growth. Ectopic uteri occur mostly in the fallopian tubes, although they can rarely fall into the cervix, ovaries, or abdomen. .

In the beginning, an ectopic pregnancy may proceed as a simple pregnancy. Everything “normal” can be present; missed period, nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, and a positive pregnancy test. In the fact of ectopic pregnancy with all the indications of a correctly implanted embryo, delaying the diagnosis plays an important role. It is not uncommon to leave an ectopic pregnancy undiagnosed until the growing fetus begins to move out of the cell creating a new stored signal, sometimes 6-8 weeks after the first period is missed. Undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies can lead to infertility, and are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester.

The information includes:

1. Sharp or stabbing Pelvic Pain
2. Vaginal bleeding
3. Vertigo or Fainting
4. Shoulder pain
5. Painful intercourse

Women who are at higher risk of ectopic pregnancy are women with a prior history of: ectopic pregnancy, inflammation or infection of the reproductive organs, fertility or structural problems, and women who become pregnant while using birth control and the IUD.

Confirming the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy will involve physical-exam, ultrasound imaging and blood work. Sometimes in the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound cannot detect the pregnancy. In some instances where pregnancy hormones (HCG) is elevated by ultrasound, Dr. monitor your condition until the diagnosis can be confirmed, but in general, ectopic pregnancies are treated immediately, avoiding rupture and blood loss. Sometimes aborting a pregnancy naturally requires frequent blood work so that the HCG levels are reliable drops.

The treatment of ectopic pregnancy is largely determined by the gestational age of the fetus. Before the uterus does not bleed, the option may be drug-based treatment or surgical interventions. Both carry with them the possibility of side effects and adverse reactions, but untreated ectopic pregnancies hold the real possibility. disaster

Methotrexate is a drug used to end an ectopic pregnancy by stopping the production of rapidly growing cells. It can be given as a shot, through an IV, or transvaginally. Common side effects of methotrexate include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, and mouth ulcers. Methotrexate can only be used in early pregnancy and may require more than one medication if HCG levels do not fall.

Medicine is contraindicated when surgery becomes the only option. The type of surgery depends on how far along the pregnancy is. The majority of ectopic pregnancies can be removed by laparoscopy, which requires only a small incision in the navel, usually done by hand today. Thin instruments are inserted through the incision and the pregnancy is removed and the fallopian tube is repaired.

When the ectopic pregnancy has become too large to treat with laparoscopy or surgery, it will be done through a laparotomy, which is a larger incision and requires a hospital stay. In some cases, a ruptured fallopian tube cannot be repaired and must be removed.

Women who have had one ectopic pregnancy are more likely to have another. Although nothing can be done, it is important for them to think again about pregnant women.

Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ectopic-pregnancy/DS00622/DECTION=symp
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000895.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/methotrexate/article.htm

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