The Danger of an Ectopic Pregnancy |
Posted: November 18, 2019 |
Pregnancy usually occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus inside its cavity. But sometimes it can attach itself to another place and this is called an ectopic pregnancy. It can be localized in the fallopian tube, in the ovary, in the cervix, or in the place of a scar left after a cesarean section. Together with the doctor, we figured out how often this happens, what are the associated dangers, and whether it is possible to reduce the risk of it occurring. What Causes Ectopic Pregnancy?It is believed that 1-2% of all pregnancy cases occur not where they should. In 90% of these cases, the fertilized egg is attached inside the fallopian tube. The remaining 10% falls on the cervix, the uterine muscle layer, abdominal cavity, ovary or cesarean scar and the latter is generally considered a risk factor. The fallopian tubes are designed so that their walls can contract, moving the egg or embryo in the direction of the uterus. They are covered with a special cilia inside, the movements of which also contribute to moving the egg. But there are conditions in which these functions are violated and most of them are related to infections which leads to inflammation and problems with hormones or immune processes. The most obvious dangers are infections like chlamydia and smoking, in which toxic substances damage the cilia of the fallopian tubes. Other known risk factors are surgery or trauma to the pelvic organs and the use of intrauterine devices. The risk of ectopic pregnancy in the cervical region and in the muscle layer arises if such interventions as curettage for the purpose of abortion or surgery to treat endometriosis have been performed. Age increases the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy and it occurs more often among women older than 35 years. The reasons for this are still unknown. According to studies, almost half of the women with ectopic pregnancies did not have known risk factors. It seems that there are more complex mechanisms that can affect the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy. Dangers of an Ectopic PregnancyAn ectopic pregnancy is a truly life-threatening condition in which emergency care is needed. Back in 1977, the authors of one study concluded that 75% of deaths associated with ectopic pregnancy could be prevented by eliminating delays in diagnosis and treatment. A growing fetal egg leads to a rupture of the fallopian tube and this may cause heavy bleeding, the outcome of which can be fatal. In the long term, an ectopic pregnancy increases risks of problems with future pregnancies. That’s because oftentimes the fallopian tube needs to be removed, leaving the woman with only one remaining which decreases the chance of getting pregnant. When an ectopic pregnancy is terminated, a lot of blood enters the abdominal cavity which stimulates the adhesion process. In the future, the patient may have disturbances in the intestines and pelvic pain. How Is It Diagnosed and Treated?As gynecologists explain, it is possible to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy without complications only early on. It can develop up to four to five weeks without manifesting itself. Women come later due to pregnancy and in many countries, the first ultrasound scan is generally planned for a period of about twelve weeks. If pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube, it is interrupted in a period of 6-8 weeks. At this point, the fetal egg reaches a size at which it is either pushed into the abdominal cavity or leads to the rupture of the tube. In most cases, one to two weeks before this may appear aching pains in the pelvic area and bloody or brown discharge may. If you consult a doctor in time, medication can help.
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