Everything You Need To Know About An Ectopic Pregnancy

You may have heard of the term ectopic pregnancy before, but many people don’t know what one of these is. As it is not a very common condition, only 6-16% of women will experience this, not much is known in the general public about this type of pregnancy. But, it is something that is good to know about, as you never know what the future holds. This article is going to tell you everything that you need to know about ectopic pregnancies, and by the end of this, you will be well informed on what it is, what causes them, and what the signs are.

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What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is where the embryo implants itself into the fallopian tube instead of the womb. This is dangerous, and if this type of pregnancy bursts, it will kill the mother. This is why they are so dangerous, and need to be identified quickly to give the mother the best chance of survival. Unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be saved if it is ectopic, and must be removed as soon as it is found. All pregnancies like this must end, as the baby will not survive, and every second that it remains inside the tubes, the risk grows for the mother.

It doesn’t just have to be the fallopian tubes though, even though this is the most common kind of ectopic pregnancy. It can be implanted anywhere outside the womb, but because the womb is where everything is the embryo needs to stay sustained, it will not be able to survive.

What Causes Ectopic Pregnancy?

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The most common cause for this type of pregnancy is some sort of damage to the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg may have issues getting past the fallopian tubes, and as such implants itself in there instead. There are some factors that can cause damage to the fallopian tubes, and these are commonly thought to be some of the causes. The first one is smoking, as the more you smoke, you are going to be at higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Endometriosis is another one of the possible causes of ectopic pregnancies due to the scar tissue in or around the fallopian tubes. 

If you have had an STD such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea, you are more likely to have what is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This is thought to be another cause of ectopic pregnancies. Or, if you have had surgery on your fallopian tubes, or IVF, this too could increase your chance of having an ectopic pregnancy.

Signs Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

You should see your obgyn if you start exhibiting any of the signs or symptoms that come with an ectopic pregnancy, these are the things that you need to be looking out for. Pelvic or belly pain is one of the first symptoms that you might experience, and this is usually on one side first. Vaginal bleeding is also something that you need to keep a close eye on. While spotting is common during the first trimester of pregnancy, any bleeding should be reported to your doctor, just so they can make sure that everything is okay.

We hope that you have found this article informative, and now know everything that you need to about ectopic pregnancies.