An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy where the fetus is
not growing in its usual location i.e. the uterine cavity or the womb.
It
is also known as “
Tubal Pregnancy”
as vast majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in fallopian tubes (almost 98%).
However, they can occur in a number of other unusual locations including
abdomen, ovary or cervix.
It is a
life-threatening condition to the mother with a major risk of rupture leading
to internal bleeding.
It
is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester of
pregnancy.
An
ectopic pregnancy results from a fertilized egg's inability to move into the
uterus. This can be due to congenital deformities or blockages in the tube. The classical signs and
symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include abdominal pain, amenorrhea and vaginal
bleeding.
A quantitative hCG test and an ultrasound can
help diagnose ectopic pregnancy.
Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy depends on the
size and location of the pregnancy. An early ectopic pregnancy can sometimes be
treated with methotrexate injection, which stops the growth of the embryo. If
the abnormal ectopic pregnancy ruptures, surgery is required to remove the
abnormal pregnancy.