Ectopic Pregnancy: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

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Ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the ovum, after getting fertilized in the fallopian tube, implants before it gets to the uterus cavity where it is supposed to implant normally. It can get attached to either the walls of the fallopian or cervix. Pregnancy should and can never grow anywhere else except inside the uterus. This is an abnormal condition that could even lead to death; thus, it should be handled before it deteriorates. Early treatment reduces the risks that come with ectopic pregnancies, decreases chances of later health complications, and increases chances of healthy pregnancies.

There is no definite cause of ectopic pregnancy but there are some conditions that are linked with it. Some of them include maternal age being thirty-five years and above, existing history of endometriosis, several abortions, pelvic surgery, abdominal surgery, and pelvic inflammatory disease, in case the conception process occurred regardless of the tubal ligation or if the conception occurred with the aid of the fertility drugs (Gaskins et al., 2018). Existing history of ectopic pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, and having abnormalities in the fallopian tube in terms of structure can also cause ectopic pregnancy. Smokers also have a higher risk of suffering this condition.

Ectopic pregnancy presents itself in different ways after it has occurred. Some of the most common signs of ectopic pregnancy include experiencing sharp waves of pain around the abdomen, shoulder, pelvis, and neck. This pain can also be experienced only on one side of the abdomen (Lee et al., 2018). There can also be vagina bleeding, either light or heavy, rectal pressure, nausea, breast soreness, and dizziness leading to fainting. If one experiences such signs, it is important to consult the doctor immediately.

Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is by conducting a physical exam. The doctor may decide to perform some of the routine tests so that they rule out other possible factors. Another way to diagnose ectopic pregnancy is by performing a transvaginal ultrasound. Here, the doctor inserts wand-like equipment into the vagina to look for any gestational sac in the uterus. Determination of the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone is also a test that can be done to determine ectopic pregnancy (Jacob et al., 2017). These are hormones activated during pregnancy. If these hormone levels start to reduce, and no gestational sac in the uterus, then there is a probability of ectopic pregnancy.

Treatment of ectopic pregnancies varies depending on the site of the embryo and how it is developing. It is much safe when the embryo is evacuated in its early stages. Removal is done by dilation and evacuation method. In case of complications, methotrexate can be used (Yang et al., 2017). This will hinder the growth of rapidly developing cells. When treatment has gone successful, symptoms similar to that of miscarriage will show up. Surgery can also be used to preferred. The surgeon will perform a procedure called laparotomy, where they use a camera to monitor the moves when removing the embryo physically. The doctor will thereafter give specific instructions on how to live before the incision heals. Some of these instructions include not lifting objects heavier than ten pounds, taking more fluids to avoid constipation, refining from sexual intercourse, and giving oneself enough rest.

Prevention can be done by reducing the number of sex partners and using a condom. This will prevent one from getting sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea. Women should also visit the doctor and gynecologist frequently during the pregnancy period for screening (Long et al., 2020). They also need to have a proper diet and avoid smoking. The chronic outlook after an ectopic pregnancy is dependent on how the evacuation was conducted. Physical damages associated with evacuation determine the outlook of ectopic pregnancy.

References

Gaskins, A. J., Missmer, S. A., Rich-Edwards, J. W., Williams, P. L., Souter, I., & Chavarro, J. E. (2018). Demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. Fertility and Sterility, 110(7), 13281337. Web.

Jacob, L., Kalder, M., & Kostev, K. (2017). Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Germany: A retrospective study of 100,197 patients. German Medical Science, 15. Web.

Lee, R., Dupuis, C., Chen, B., Smith, A., & Kim, Y. H. (2018). Diagnosing ectopic pregnancy in the emergency setting. Ultrasonography, 37(1), 7887. Web.

Long, Y., Zhu, H., Hu, Y., Shen, L., Fu, J., & Huang, W. (2020). Interventions for nontubal ectopic pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7, 13. Web.

Yang, C., Cai, J., Geng, Y., & Gao, Y. (2017). Multiple-dose and double-dose versus single-dose administration of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 34(4), 383391. Web.

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