Pregnancies are a time full of different emotions. For many mamas, especially first-timers, it’s a moment of celebration. You’ve finally got a baby on the way and you’re on your way to becoming a fully-fledged mama. Even if this isn’t your first pregnancy, it’s still a reason to celebrate! You have another tiny human being to watch over, raise, and watch grow up.
Whatever the case may be, a pregnancy is almost always something that is welcome in the life of any mama. It’s part of the miracle of life after all. However, along with all the joyful things about getting pregnant, there are also a whole host of things that could cause one some worry or distress. Since you are carrying a child, there are still a lot of things that could possibly happen that would harm either of you. It’s these many things that can cause any mama to worry throughout the course of their pregnancy.
Among the many troublesome things to worry about when it comes to pregnancy, one of the more serious ones would be an ectopic pregnancy. You might have heard this term thrown around at some point in your life, but what exactly is an ectopic pregnancy? What are the things ectopic pregnancy causes and why should it be a cause for concern? Fortunately for you mamas, we have that covered in this article.
Normal Pregnancies
Before we go on and talk about ectopic pregnancies, it’s important to first discuss what a normal pregnancy is. That way, we can help you differentiate one from the other and point out what makes an ectopic pregnancy something to watch out for.
All pregnancies begin the same way, with the union of the egg and the sperm. In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg will grow and become an embryo. The embryo will then travel to the uterus. Here, it will implant itself on the uterine walls. After this, the embryo will continue growing into a baby until it’s time for the fetus to be delivered.
All the events mentioned are what usually take place during a normal pregnancy. Assuming all goes well, your baby will have no problem growing and developing. In about 9 months, you’ll have a healthy baby!
Ectopic Pregnancy
However, when you talk about an ectopic pregnancy, you talk about a pregnancy that takes place outside of the uterus. Unlike a normal pregnancy where the embryo attaches to the walls of the uterus, an ectopic pregnancy would have the embryo finding itself in places it shouldn’t be. This only brings about more problems for both the mother and the baby.
In most cases, an ectopic pregnancy would have the embryo attaching to the fallopian tube—the part of the female reproductive system that connects the uterus to the ovaries. In other instances, the embryo can also find its way to the cervix, ovary, and even the inside of the belly. Whatever the case, this type of ectopic pregnancy can bring about several risks, both with severe and fatal consequences for the mother and the baby.
Symptoms
In terms of symptoms, one of the most common signs that one may have an ectopic pregnancy would be vaginal bleeding in the first trimester that may be accompanied with pain in the abdomen.
Bleeding
Being one of the most common symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, you may think that there is a specific pattern of bleeding associated with this type of pregnancy. However, there is no specific bleeding pattern that one can associate with an ectopic pregnancy. The bleeding can vary, ranging from spotting to heavy bleeding. What’s more, sometimes, this bleeding can be confused with menstruation as sometimes people may have irregular cycles and this type of bleeding may be normal for them.
Abdominal Pain
For those asking, “is ectopic pregnancy painful,” it may hurt the same way a regular pregnancy does. However, much like the bleeding, there are also no specific characteristics with regard to the abdominal pain felt during an ectopic pregnancy. The pain one may feel can be nonspecific, being located in the pelvic area, intermittent or continuous, and sharp or dull. So, it can still be very difficult to figure out if the abdominal pain is indeed due to an ectopic pregnancy.
Despite this, there is one type of pain that may seem more likely for an ectopic pregnancy. If the pain comes suddenly and intensely, then this may most likely be an ectopic pregnancy rupture. In which case, it’s worth addressing this problem when ectopic pregnancy rupture.
However, with all that in mind, it’s worth noting that there are also a number of things you have to keep in mind before immediately thinking you have an ectopic pregnancy if you experience these symptoms.
For example, you have to be certain you’re pregnant first. Otherwise, it might still seem unlikely that you may have an ectopic pregnancy. However, if it’s confirmed that you are pregnant, if you don’t know if the pregnancy is intrauterine—the term for a pregnancy where the embryo is in the uterine walls—there could be a chance it’s ectopic.
All that aside, the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually start manifesting between six to eight weeks after your last menstrual period. Sometimes, the bleeding and abdominal pain are also accompanied by other typical symptoms of pregnancy. So, symptoms like tender breasts, more frequent trips to the bathroom, and nausea can also be present. However, as ectopic pregnancies don’t have the same effect on the hormones as a regular pregnancy, these normal pregnancy symptoms may also not be present.
Risk Factors
With all these in mind, some of you mamas may wonder what would make it more likely for you to have an ectopic pregnancy. There are several risk factors worth taking note of that may make it more likely for you to have an ectopic pregnancy. For example, if you’ve already had an ectopic pregnancy before, chances are your next pregnancy could still be ectopic. However, there are still other factors worth considering that may predispose you to having an ectopic pregnancy. Here are some worth taking note of.
Genital Infections
If you’ve ever had a genital infection or something like pelvic inflammatory disease, there is a chance that you may have an ectopic pregnancy. The reason for this is because these infections can change the structure of your fallopian tube—the tube where the embryo passes from the ovaries to go to the uterus. As these diseases may cause places like your fallopian tubes to scar, they could become more narrow. This would then make passage of the embryo more difficult and cause it to stay in the fallopian tubes.
Infertility
While it may not seem like a risk factor for an ectopic pregnancy, there is some relationship between infertility and this type of pregnancy. You see, there are many reasons for a person to become infertile. Some people may produce eggs that aren’t viable for fertilization, while others may have anatomical reasons behind their infertility.
Much like how an infection can cause your fallopian tubes to narrow or even close up, some could have an abnormality in their tubes making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg or vice versa. However, sometimes an egg may become fertilized, but still be unable to reach the uterus. As such, it could end up clinging on to the fallopian tube instead, leading to an ectopic pregnancy.
Intrauterine Devices
An intrauterine device (or IUD) is known to be something used as a contraceptive. However, while this is known to help prevent pregnancies, these things aren’t always perfect. There is still the off chance that a pregnancy may take place. What’s more, should a pregnancy still occur, there is a chance that it would be one that is ectopic. As such, there is still a chance ectopic pregnancy symptoms IUD users run the risk of experiencing.
Diagnosing It
As mentioned earlier, there are a number of things you have to take note of before you can say you have an ectopic pregnancy. The presence of bleeding and abdominal pain isn’t enough. You’ll also first need to confirm that you are indeed pregnant. So, with that in mind, you will first need to take a test to confirm that you are pregnant if you aren’t sure of it.
For people unsure of whether or not they’re pregnant, taking a pregnancy test is one way to confirm. However, in some cases, testing for your serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may also be a better option. This hormone is elevated in people who are pregnant and would be a good way for a doctor to gauge if you are indeed pregnant.
Once your pregnancy is confirmed, the next step is to have an ultrasound done. At first, your doctor will perform a transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). This will help them see if your pregnancy is uterine. If they can’t find signs of an intrauterine pregnancy, they will then look in the surrounding areas to confirm its location. As soon as they find an extrauterine embryo, they can then say you have an ectopic pregnancy.
What To Do About It
Much like with the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy, the necessary course of action will depend on how your doctor sees it. In most cases, terminating the pregnancy would be the best option. It might seem a little harsh, yes. However, having an ectopic pregnancy can only do more harm than good. It could cause the death of the baby and their mama. So, terminating the pregnancy may be the best option.
However, sometimes, there is a small chance that the pregnancy may not be fatal. Of course, this may depend on the location. Should the ectopic pregnancy be in a place that may not cause any harm or not rupture, causing massive blood loss and death, a doctor may opt to do expectant management. Here, the doctor will guide you throughout the pregnancy and help you deliver the baby should the time come.
Whatever the case, it’s always good to get the opinion of your obstetrician as they’re the most knowledgeable people when it comes to these things. From diagnosing it to managing it appropriately, they’ll be the best people to go to. So, should you have any questions or concerns about the abdominal pain or bleeding you feel, go to them. However, with all the things mentioned here, you can at least be able to make more informed decisions when it comes to your body and your pregnancy. That’s still something!
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