All You Need to Know About Ectopic Pregnancy

While one may experience normal signs and symptoms of pregnancy, there might be a couple of other symptoms like sharp or stabbing pain,  heavy vaginal bleeding, weakness, dizziness or fatigue that may help you identify an ectopic pregnancy. Once identified, you should not delay in seeking an IVF specialist’s help for your infertility treatment in Delhi.

Ectopic Pregnancy, in simple words, is a complication in pregnancy wherein a fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus, usually, in the fallopian tube or abdomen.

An egg, once released from the ovary, stays in the fallopian tube for about 24 hours, where it comes in contact with sperm to be a fertilized. Once the egg is fertilized, it heads towards the uterus after 3-4 days and gets attached to the lining of the uterus, where it grows into an embryo and finally into a baby. However, in some of the cases, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube. In these circumstances, the fertilized egg does not grow into a baby and poses a serious threat to the life of the woman concerned if not treated. 

While the pregnancy cannot be saved, the embryo has to be removed either surgically or through medications.

While it is quite difficult to determine the real cause of your Ectopic Pregnancy, it causes can vary from an inflammation or an infection of the fallopian tube to a damaged fallopian tube. Infection or inflammation of the fallopian tube, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, scar tissues from an infection or surgical procedure, unsuccessful tubal litigation or tubal litigation reversal are some of the causes that can obstruct the fertilized egg from entering the uterus, thereby causing Ectopic Pregnancy. 

As ectopic pregnancy occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy, one may not necessarily show any signs of it. Though the symptoms, in many cases, have low specificity and be similar to those of other gastrointestinal problems and infections, some of  the  serious symptoms could include abdominal cramps, sharp and stabbing pain in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, weakness, pelvic tenderness and fatigue.

A physician may usually perform a pelvic exam or pregnancy test to locate the pain and tenderness in your abdomen. Apart from this, your physician may also use ultrasound to determine the condition of the fallopian tube and to figure out if it contains a foetus.

In order to save the patient from serious complications, the tissue of the fallopian tube may be removed with the help of medications or by performing a surgery. 

Medication: Most ectopic pregnancies, if diagnosed early, can be treated with Methotrexate which not only stops the pregnancy tissue from growing but also absorbs it and saves the fallopian tube.

Surgery: One of the most common surgery performed to treat ectopic surgery is laparoscopy, wherein a thin, flexible instrument is inserted into one’s body through a small  incision on the abdomen to remove the pregnancy tissue or foetus. In case the fallopian tube is damaged as well, and it is not possible to remove the ectopic surgery through laparoscopy, another surgery called laparotomy may be performed to remove the same.

If you have had ectopic pregnancy earlier, it does not mean that you cannot have normal pregnancy again. Nevertheless, if you had a fallopian tube removed, it is best to consult a fertility specialist at the earliest. In most cases, the doctors suggest three to six months’ time before trying again for a pregnancy. 

Gaudium IVF is one of the top IVF clinic in Delhi and is renowned for bringing advanced and affordable treatment and care for female infertility and gynaecological issues.

Contact today for a free consultation and expert advice from the leading IVF specialist in Delhi, Dr Manika Khanna.

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