Ectopic Pregnancy
This is when the pregnancy implants somewhere in the mothers body but not in the womb. The most common place for an ectopic pregnancy is in the fallopian tubes. The pregnancy tissue develops abnormally and normally does not contain a fetus. Since the fallopian tubes are very small and not very stretchy, an ectopic pregnancy can be very dangerous because the tube can burst and cause life threatening internal bleeding.
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, sometimes around when a period would be expected, abdominal pain, pain in the shoulders, loose bowels or diarrhea, and dizziness. An ectopic pregnancy can also cause normal symptoms of pregnancy such as breast tenderness, nausea and a missed period.
An ectopic pregnancy is usually diagnosed between 6 and 8 weeks after the last menstrual period, using ultrasound scanning. You may also be asked to have blood taken for pregnancy hormone levels. Some ectopic pregnancies resolve on their own before they cause any problems. Some can be treated using a drug called methotrexate. Any ectopic pregnancy causing pain or bleeding will usually need to be removed with keyhole surgery. Unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be moved into the womb.
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