Ectopic pregnancySeeing that solid blue line on the pregnancy testing kit may have you leaping for joy, but it can't tell you where the embryo has planted. Around 11,000 women suffer ectopic pregnancies each year including Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in July 2001. An ectopic pregnancy happens when the cluster of cells that will grow into the baby becomes embedded somewhere outside the womb. In 95 per cent of cases this will be in one of the tubes (Fallopian tubes) that link the ovaries to the womb. The embryo continues to develop, but the tube cannot stretch to allow it to grow. If the embryo is in the widest part of the tube, at the end, blood will start to leak out through the end. If it's in the narrow part, the tube will burst. This is a serious medical emergency.
In the early stages, an ectopic pregnancy produces signs no different from those of a normal pregnancy - missed periods, tender breasts and so on. The major difference is that an ectopic pregnancy eventually - usually between 6-10 weeks - causes pain in the lower abdomen, usually on one side, which may be accompanied by dark brown bleeding. If you experience pain, with or without bleeding, consult your doctor right away. If you have severe pain, especially if you also feel dizzy or faint, go very pale, and your pulse rate becomes very fast, it's possible that you have an ectopic pregnancy that has burst a Fallopian tube. This is an emergency, and you'll need to be taken to hospital immediately. What's the treatment?An ectopic pregnancy isn't always easy to diagnose, especially if there's only slight, or no, bleeding. The first thing the doctor is likely to do if you're experiencing pain is to examine you internally. If the diagnosis still isn't clear you may need to have an ultrasound scan. In some cases, further tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. The usual treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is for it to be removed under a general anaesthetic. The tube may have to be removed too, although this isn't always necessary. In some cases, if the ectopic pregnancy is identified early enough, it may be possible to treat it using an injection to destroy the cells rather than by an operation. What causes it?In the UK, one in 80 pregnancies are ectopic, the figure has risen four-fold over the past decade. Research suggest that around half could be due to tubal damage from pelvic inflammatory disease such as chlamydia. The risk is also increased by fertility treatment, use of the coil, endometriosis and taking the mini pill or if you have had surgery on your Fallopian tubes. Sometimes an ectopic pregnancy occurs for no apparent reason. Will it affect me having another baby?If you have to have one of your tubes removed for an ectopic pregnancy, as long as the remaining one is healthy, there's no reason for you not to have another normal pregnancy in the future, though it may take longer to conceive. And having one ectopic pregnancy doesn't make it any more likely that you'll have another. Further information
|
