Ectopic pregnancy-when the pregnancy is not in the right place

Safia had missed her period.  A pregnancy test done at home came back as positive. With great excitement, she and her husband fixed up an appointment with their obstetrician for confirmation of the pregnancy. On the day of the appointment, she developed slight spotting and also a cramping pain in the lower part of her abdomen. When her doctor did an ultrasound scan to find out why she was bleeding, there was no pregnancy found inside the uterus. A detailed scan showed that the pregnancy was in the Fallopian tube. Safia has an ectopic pregnancy.

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

In the normal course of events, fertilisation of the egg occurs in the Fallopian tube. The fertilised egg then moves into the cavity of the uterus over the next 5-7 days. It then implants into the wall of the cavity and starts growing. Sometimes this process does not go so smoothly. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg does not reach the uterus and starts growing outside the uterus. Since it is in an abnormal location, it can cause complications.

Why must an ectopic pregnancy be treated?

The majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in a Fallopian tube. When the diagnosis is made at an early stage, before there is danger of the tube bursting, it is called an unruptured ectopic. An unruptured ectopic pregnancy can be treated with medication.

As the pregnancy grows, it can cause the tube to burst. This is called a ruptured ectopic. If this occurs, it can result in life-threatening bleeding inside the abdomen. Emergency surgery may then be required.