In case a woman begins to undergo symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, in all probability she will be administered the quantitative HCG test that determines the HCG level in the blood. Now, if the levels are below the normal that is projected for the woman's specific pregnancy phase, the physician may suppose it to be an ectopic pregnancy.
In addition, a woman needs to go through a pelvic exam, a vaginal exam, and an ultrasound. A culdocentesis might also be carried out, wherein a needle is put into the top area of the vagina, at the back of the uterus, to try to find blood from a burst ectopic pregnancy.
When the fetus develops on the exterior of the uterus, it would ultimately result in the rupturing of the organ that holds it, as well as the major arteries. This produces acute intra-abdominal hemorrhaging, which if not attended to immediately, can prove fatal for the pregnant woman.
Contending with the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy by just terminating the ectopic pregnancy constitutes the sole option, since the embryo's chances of survival are simply hopeless.
There is a diverse range of choices available for coping with the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, and they all are chiefly based on the size of the embryo. In case the embryo is quite tiny, surgery may be ruled out; instead, a woman could be administered methotrexate drug.
The medicine operates by inhibiting the growth of the placental cells, the moment it is introduced into the muscle and passes through the bloodstream.
Regrettably, the rate of success of this drug is much lower when compared with surgery; in fact, in some special cases, the woman may need methotrexate as well as surgery. This drug has some side effects characterized by stomach pain or cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.
There may be cases where a woman is too far into her pregnancy to take methotrexate; moreover, there could be a possibility she could be suffering internal bleeding, in great physical distress, breastfeeding, or has particular health conditions that proscribe taking this drug.
In such a scenario, if the embryo, even now, is very tiny and the woman's condition is quite sound, a further alternative to handling the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy would involve taking out the embryo by means of laparoscopic surgery.
Here, a minute camera is inserted via a tiny incision in the stomach and the tubes closely inspected; the embryo or the residual matter can be taken out by means of this incision. In case the woman's tube is not greatly harmed and if she is not having excessive bleeding, the tube can stay in place. This kind of surgery is performed under general anesthesia and needs about a week for the patient to recuperate completely.
In case the woman has extensive scar tissue in her stomach or has severe bleeding, or in case the embryo is very big, major abdominal surgery is necessary in order to cope with the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.
In such a case, the woman is given general anesthesia; the surgeon is required to cut open her abdomen and take out the embryo. Yet again, based on the woman's health condition, her tube might be kept intact or it might also be taken out. Six weeks of convalescence, is needed after this surgery; certain side effects may consist of feeling bloated, stomach pain and uneasiness.
Pregnancy by itself can be a very stressful time for the mother-to-be. Add to that, all the complications that can occur during the gestation period, and it all becomes too much to handle! One complex situation that can arise is an "ectopic pregnancy" or a "tubal pregnancy", which if left untreated for long, can prove to be a life-and-death situation for the mother with child.
Neither of the couple is responsible for the ectopic pregnancy; it is just a mysterious quirk of nature. The pregnancy has to be terminated and this news brings grief to all concerned - the parents-to-be, other family members, relatives and friends. All the same, it is important that proper care is taken to ensure that the woman continues to remain healthy and fertile.
But before we go into the details of uncommon symptoms to watch out for, let us define an ectopic pregnancy, at least for the benefit of first-time pregnant women. When the egg is fertilized, it has to naturally implant itself in the uterus. In this case, it gets implanted either in the cervix or ovaries or fallopian tubes. The commonest 'outside place' for the fertilized ovum is the fallopian tubes; hence, another name for ectopic pregnancy is "tubal pregnancy".
This unusual condition can herald problems even before the woman is aware that she is carrying a child. For instance, she can experience such intense abdominal pain that she has to rush to a doctor for treatment. Other signs she can present with are low back pain, dizziness, and breakthrough bleeding or spotting. A sample of her urine is therefore taken to test for different hormones and chemicals present in the body. This is sufficient to reveal a positive pregnancy.
Now that the doctors know that the woman is pregnant, they have to look for the cause of her present symptoms. A pelvic exam is in the offing. An ultrasound can only be attempted after one and a half months or after six weeks. Of course, once the doctors suspect an ectopic pregnancy, the patient is put under close surveillance for they are well aware that the mother-to-be could lose her life if she is not careful, or possibly lose her fertility. A live birth is simply not possible! It is therefore imperative that close family members and friends understand the mother's agony and treat her with utmost respect.
As far as treatments go, the advancement of medical science has made ectopic pregnancy easier to deal with. Depending on how far advanced the pregnancy is, a suitable method of treatment is chosen.
If the problem is detected early, an injection is given to dissolve the fertilized egg; it is then reabsorbed into the woman's body. The reproductive organs are neither harmed nor scarred, ensuring that fertility is left intact. Surgery may be warranted for a long-term problem. Laser treatment is popular today as it can lessen the damage caused to the pregnant woman's body. Even after treatment, the patient's hormone levels are monitored for at least 3 months to ensure that no signs of an ectopic pregnancy have remained.
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