Ectopic pregnancy or also known as an ectopic pregnancy is a condition of pregnancy in which the fertilized egg cell is not able to stick or cling to the mother's womb, but attached to different places ie in the fallopian tubes or oviducts (pregnancy outside the womb is often the case ), cervix, in the abdominal cavity or ovaries. Pregnancy begins with a fertilized egg. Usually the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. However, in the case of ectopic pregnancy or can be interpreted as pregnancy outside the womb, the egg is fertilized elsewhere.
Ectopic pregnancy almost always occurs in one of the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus (fallopian tube). Type of ectopic pregnancy is often known as tubal pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is rare in the ovary, abdomen, or neck of the womb (cervix). Ectopic pregnancy can not continue like a normal pregnancy. A fertilized egg can not survive, and can harm the developing fetus is the mother of the fetus. If not treated immediately life threatening, because it might cause blood loss. Early treatment of an ectopic pregnancy may help to preserve normal chances of getting pregnant with the future.
Cause.
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is stuck on the way to the uterus. This is often caused by fallopian tube once injured, damaged, or defective. Sometimes, the specific cause of ectopic pregnancy still can not be determined with certainty.
Symptoms.
In many cases, a woman with an ectopic pregnancy do not feel pregnant. If there are signs and symptoms of early pregnancy will probably resemble, among others:
- Late menstrual.
- Breast pain.
- Nausea.
- Fatigue.
In the event of signs and symptoms and do a pregnancy test, you will get positive results. But pregnancy is not ectopic pregnancy can be continued as usual. The signs which are the first warning of an ectopic pregnancy, among others:
1. Vaginal bleeding.
2. Lower abdominal pain.
3. Cramps on one side of the pelvis.
If the fallopian tubes rupture, symptoms that can occur include:
- Sharp pain, stabbing in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder and neck.
- Dizziness.
Treatment.
A fertilized egg can not develop normally outside the womb. To prevent life-threatening complications, ectopic tissue must be removed.
Sometimes if the ectopic pregnancy is detected early, an injection of the drug methotrexate can be used to stop cell growth and dissolve existing cells.
After the injection, the doctor will monitor the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). If the HCG level remains high, may need other kinds of methotrexate injection.
If the ectopic pregnancy does not respond to drugs because the size is too big, it can not use methotrexate again. And may require laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen, usually near the navel.
Then the doctor will use a thin tube equipped with a camera lens and light (laparoscope) to view the area. Other instruments can be inserted into the tube or through other small incisions to remove the ectopic tissue and repair the fallopian tubes. If the fallopian tubes are significantly damaged, it may need to be removed.
If an ectopic pregnancy cause heavy bleeding or the fallopian tube has ruptured, the patient may require emergency surgery through an abdominal incision (laparotomy). In some cases, the fallopian tube can be repaired. In some cases, an injection of methotrexate is also required after surgery.