Ectopic Pregnancy explained…

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that grows outside of the uterus, often in the fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies are very rare occurring in 1-2% of all pregnancies.

Risk factors for having an ectopic pregnancy include:

1) Having had one in the past.
2) Having an IUD in place when you became pregnant
3) A previous pelvic surgery or tubal ligation (ie: having your tubes tied).

You can make 100% sure your pregnancy is inside the uterus by having an ultrasound test. If you have a medication abortion without having an ultrasound first, there is a small chance you could have an undetected ectopic pregnancy. Medication abortion will not end an ectopic pregnancy, so if you don’t pass tissue and blood after taking the misoprostol (the 2nd medicine), you might have an ectopic pregnancy. In this rare case professional medical care is needed. This is why its important to be within a 1 hr drive of emergency medical care when performing an abortion with pills.

Ectopic pregnancies can be a life-threatening situation if left untreated because the pregnancy could grow large enough to rupture your fallopian tube, which can cause severe bleeding. There are instances in which deaths have been reported. You should seek immediate medical care if, after taking the meds, you have worsening abdominal pain 24 hours later, if you have no bleeding within 24hrs or if you believe you still might be pregnant after 7 days. But again, the chances of this happening are 1-2%.

Ectopic pregnancies are treated everywhere in the World even in places where abortion is restricted. The treatment is the same as reporting to urgent care with a miscarriage – a common occurrence.

Will an ectopic pregnancy show up on a pregnancy test?

Yes, an ectopic pregnancy shows as a positive result on pregnancy tests because the same hormones are being released. So it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. In the UK, there are over 10,000 ectopic pregnancies every year. That equates to about 1 in every 90 pregnancies.

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

Most ectopic pregnancies are detected in the first trimester of pregnancy. If no symptoms occur an ectopic pregnancy will be picked up during an ultrasound scan. Symptoms to watch out for include: A missed period and other signs of pregnancy, tummy pain low down on one side, vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge, pain in the tip of your shoulder, discomfort when going to the bathroom. If you have any of these symptoms make an appointment to see your Doctor. You may be referred to a specialist or early pregnancy clinic for further evaluation and treatment. If you experience a sharp, sudden and intense pain in your tummy, fainting or dizzy spells, feeling sick, or looking very pale, you should seek emergency medical care immediately.

How are ectopic pregnancies treated?

Ectopic pregnancies are generally treated in one of three ways.

1) Either the fertilised egg dissolves by itself naturally, in which case you’ll be carefully monitored until healthy again.
2) A powerful injection of methotrexate is given to stop the pregnancy from growing.
3) A ‘keyhole’ surgical procedure is used to remove the fertilised egg (under general anaesthetic). The affected fallopian tube is sometimes removed at the same time.

Will I be able to get pregnant again after an ectopic pregnancy?

Most women will be able to get pregnant again after overcoming an ectopic pregnancy- even if one fallopian tube has been removed (Remember, you have two). There is a 10% risk of having an ectopic pregnancy again. However, studies show almost 70% of women go on to have a successful pregnancy within 18 months of having an ectopic pregnancy.