{"id":839,"date":"2020-08-26T22:18:15","date_gmt":"2020-08-27T04:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=839"},"modified":"2021-12-09T13:36:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T19:36:53","slug":"ectopic-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/healthy-pregnancy\/pregnancy-complications\/ectopic-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ectopic Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"
An ectopic pregnancy<\/strong> occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself in a place\u00a0other than inside the uterus. Most cases occur in the fallopian tube and are thus sometimes called tubal pregnancies. The fallopian\u00a0tubes are not designed to hold a growing embryo; thus, the fertilized egg in a\u00a0tubal pregnancy cannot develop properly and must be treated. An ectopic\u00a0pregnancy happens in 1 out of 50 pregnancies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Although you may experience typical signs\u00a0and symptoms of pregnancy<\/a>, and a pregnancy test result may be positive, an ectopic pregnancy can’t continue as normal. The following symptoms may be used\u00a0to help recognize a potential ectopic pregnancy:<\/p>\n It is important to contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing\u00a0sharp pain that lasts more than a few minutes or if you have bleeding<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed by your physician, who will probably\u00a0first perform a pelvic exam to locate pain, tenderness, or a mass in\u00a0the abdomen. Your physician will also use an ultrasound to determine\u00a0whether the uterus contains a developing fetus. The measurement of hCG levels<\/a> is\u00a0also important. An hCG level that is lower than expected\u00a0is one reason to suspect an ectopic pregnancy.<\/p>\n Your doctor may also test your progesterone levels because low levels could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. In addition, your physician may do a culdocentesis, which is a procedure that involves inserting a needle into the very top of the vagina, behind the uterus and in front of the rectum. The presence of blood in this area may indicate bleeding from a ruptured fallopian tube.<\/p>\n Your hCG level will need to be re-checked on a regular basis until it reaches zero if you did not have your entire fallopian tube removed. \u00a0An hCG level that remains high could indicate that the ectopic tissue was not entirely removed, which would require surgery or medical management with methotrexate.<\/p>\n The chances of having a successful pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy\u00a0may be reduced, but this will depend on why the pregnancy\u00a0was ectopic and your medical history. If the fallopian tubes have\u00a0been left in place, you have approximately a 60% chance of having\u00a0a successful pregnancy in the future.<\/p>\n Compiled using information from the following sources:<\/strong> An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg attaches itself in a place\u00a0other than inside the uterus. Most cases occur in the fallopian tube and are thus sometimes called tubal pregnancies. The fallopian\u00a0tubes are not designed to hold a growing embryo; thus, the fertilized egg in a\u00a0tubal pregnancy cannot develop properly and must be treated. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[203],"tags":[],"faq-categories":[8401],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEctopic Pregnancy Symptoms<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What are the Causes?<\/h3>\n
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Who is at risk for Having an Ectopic Pregnancy?<\/h3>\n
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How is it Diagnosed?<\/h3>\n
What are the Treatments?<\/h3>\n
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What About My Future Pregnancies?<\/h3>\n
Want to Know More?<\/h4>\n
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\nMedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library\u00a0of Medicine (US); [updated 2006 Feb 21]. Pregnancy Loss; [updated\u00a02006 Feb 22; reviewed 2006 Feb 7; cited 2006 Feb 22]. Available from:\u00a0https:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/medlineplus\/pregnancyloss.html
\nWilliams Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F.\u00a0Gary, et al, Ch. 10.
\nMedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of\u00a0Medicine (US); [updated 2006 Feb 21]. Ectopic Pregnancy; [updated 2010 Feb\u00a021;] Available from https:\/\/www.nlm.nih.gov\/medlineplus\/ency\/article\/000895.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"