Tubal Pregnancy Everything you need to know about Tubal Pregnancy and more http://tubalpregnancy.net/node/13/atom/feed 2008-07-03T12:42:58-06:00 Ectopic Pregnancies - In the Know http://tubalpregnancy.net/content/ectopic-pregnancies-know 2008-07-03T14:39:00-06:00 2008-07-03T12:42:58-06:00 sonia An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the egg implants anywhere other than the uterus. In most cases, that “other place” is somewhere inside one of the fallopian tubes, so in common language, ectopic pregnancy, tubular pregnancy, and tubal pregnancy are pretty much used interchangeably. If the ectopic pregnancy is located in the cervix, ovary, or some other organ, your doctor will not refer to it as tubal, but it is still called ectopic.

]]> An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the egg implants anywhere other than the uterus. In most cases, that “other place” is somewhere inside one of the fallopian tubes, so in common language, ectopic pregnancy, tubular pregnancy, and tubal pregnancy are pretty much used interchangeably. If the ectopic pregnancy is located in the cervix, ovary, or some other organ, your doctor will not refer to it as tubal, but it is still called ectopic.

Modern Medicine and the Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancies are dangerous to the mother. They may cause future risk of ectopic pregnancies, cause infertility or decreased fertility, and may even cause excessive bleeding that can lead to the death of the mother.

Treatment of tubal pregnancies, however, has been improving greatly, although the mortality rate of mothers is still a concern, as are the less severe consequences associated with tubal pregnancies.

The successful treatment of ectopic pregnancies can be attributed to many improvements in modern medicine, such as:

• Improvements to and development of medications
• Improved surgical techniques
• Improved and better supply of blood
• Early detection of pregnancy

Risk Factors to be Aware Of

Although the exact causes of tubal pregnancy may remain unknown in some women, there are risk factors associated with the condition. They include:

• A previous ectopic pregnancy
• Having had abdominal surgery
• PID – pelvic inflammatory disease
• Damaged fallopian tubes
• Abnormally shaped fallopian tubes
• Using medications to stimulate ovulation
• In Vitro Fertilization
• Becoming pregnant while using an IUD (rare)
• Endometriosis
• Scar tissue in the abdomen, particularly in the fallopian tubes or uterus
• Having been exposed to DES in-utero (getting rarer, as women who may have been given DES during pregnancy are exiting the childbearing years)
• Chlamydia that has adversely affected the tubes
• Gonorrhoea hat has adversely affected the tubes

Life after Ectopic Pregnancy

With improved medical techniques and improved medications, the mortality rate for mothers whose pregnancy was ectopic has been greatly reduced. In fact, nowadays, the focus is not only on preserving the life of the mother, but also on preserving her fertility.

If surgery was the treatment method used in the mother’s pregnancy, the surgeon may or may not have had to remove the fallopian tube. Sometimes it is possible to repair the damage, although if the mother’s fallopian tube was ruptured, she will most likely have lost all or part of the fallopian tube. Surgeons frequently have to remove the tube as the quickest and safest way to keep bleeding under control.

Even if a fallopian tube was damaged (or even removed), however, it is often possible to conceive again and to have a normal pregnancy. If you wish to conceive again, seek the advice of your physician and be watchful for adverse symptoms.

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