An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus.  The egg can become implanted in the fallopin tubes, in the ovary, or in the cervix.  The most common form of ectopic pregnancy is when the egg implants in the fallopin tube, often referred to as a tubal pregnancy.  Ectopic pregnancies occur in about every 1 in 60 pregnancies.

Often a woman experiencing an ectopic pregnancy will experience all the regular early signs of pregnancy, however, they will often also experience a few other symptoms that would be red flags that something is wrong with the pregnancy.  These ectopic pregnancy symptoms include:

• Sharp or stabbing pain that may come and go and vary in intensity.
• Vaginal bleeding.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Feeling of weakness, dizziness or possibly fainting.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms along with regular early signs of pregnancy you should contact your doctor right away.

If your doctor feels that an ectopic pregnancy is possible he or she will conduct a few tests including a blood test to check your hCG levels (pregnancy hormone).  A low hCG level is an indication that something may be wrong with the pregnancy.  Your doctor will also conduct a pelvic exam to feel for any unusually lumps, tenderness or bleeding.  Some doctors also conduct a culdocentesis where a needle is inserted into the vaginal area behind the uterus to check for bleeding (a sign of a possible ruptured fallopian tube).

An ectopic pregnancy is not a viable pregnancy and must be treated to prevent injury or worse to the mother.  How your ectopic pregnancy is treated will depend on whether the pregnancy has already caused damage to your fallopian tube.  These are a few of the ways your doctor may treat your ectopic pregnancy:

• If your doctor has determined that no damage has been done to the fallopian tubes he or she will administer methotrexate a drug that will allow your body to reabsorb the pregnancy.
• If your fallopian tube has been damaged some or all of the fallopian tube will need to be removed.
• If your fallopian tube has ruptured and you are bleeding internally emergency surgery will be necessary to stop the bleeding and remove the fallopian tube.  Most doctors will try to preform this surgery with the less invasive laproscopic surgery if possible.

Be sure to talk with your doctor in detail about your symptoms and get all the correct tests done to make sure your ectopic pregnancy is probably diagnosed and treated.

There are several reasons that an ectopic pregnancy might occur.  Some of the most common causes are:

• An infection or inflammation in the fallopian tube that caused it to be partially or completely blocked.
• Scar tissue left behind from a previous infection or surgery that causes the movement of the egg to be impeded.
• An abnormality in the shape of your tubes that caused the eggs movement to be hindered.

Some women are at an increased risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.  The common risk factors are:

• Over age 35.
• Have had a previous ectopic pregnancy.
• Have had pelvic or abdominal surgery in the past.
• Have or have had pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Have had several induced abortions.
• Women who become pregnant after a tubal ligation or while using an IUD.

Talk to your doctor if you have any of the common risk factors to find out if there is anything you can do to help prevent an ectopic pregnancy.

You can become pregnant after an ectopic pregnancy provided at least one of your fallopian tubes is left intact.  Your chances of becoming pregnant are lower after an ectopic pregnancy, about 60%.

Please talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns and especially if you think you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancies can be caused by an number of things