How long can ectopic pregnancy go unnoticed

Topic Resources

Ectopic pregnancy is attachment (implantation) of a fertilized egg in an abnormal location.

• In an ectopic pregnancy, the fetus cannot survive.

• When an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, women often have abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, which, if not treated, can be fatal.

• Doctors base the diagnosis on results of blood tests and ultrasonography, done mainly to determine the location of the fetus.

• Usually, surgery is done to remove the fetus and placenta, but sometimes one or more doses of methotrexate can be used to end the ectopic pregnancy.

Pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancy, are problems that occur only during pregnancy. They may affect the woman, the fetus, or both and may occur at different times during the pregnancy. However, most pregnancy complications can be effectively treated.

Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and becomes implanted in the uterus. However, if the tube is narrowed or blocked, the fertilized egg may never reach the uterus. Sometimes the fertilized egg then implants in tissues outside of the uterus, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies usually develop in one of the fallopian tubes (as a tubal pregnancy) but may develop in other locations.

A fetus in an ectopic pregnancy sometimes survives for several weeks. However, because tissues outside the uterus cannot provide the necessary blood supply and support, ultimately the fetus does not survive. The structure containing the fetus typically ruptures after about 6 to 16 weeks, long before the fetus is able to live on its own. When an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, bleeding may be severe and even threaten the life of the woman. The later the structure ruptures, the worse the blood loss, and the higher the risk of death. However, if an ectopic pregnancy is treated before it ruptures, the woman rarely dies.

About two of 100 pregnancies are an ectopic pregnancy.

Risk factors (conditions that increase the risk of a disorder) for an ectopic pregnancy include

• A disorder of the fallopian tubes

• A previous ectopic pregnancy

• Cigarette smoking

Pregnancy is less likely to occur when an IUD is in place (fewer than 1.5% of women become pregnant). However, if pregnancy does occur, about 5% of them are ectopic.

Ectopic Pregnancy: A Mislocated Pregnancy

Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and becomes implanted in the uterus. However, if the tube is narrowed or blocked, the egg may move slowly or become stuck. The fertilized egg may never reach the uterus, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy.

An ectopic pregnancy may be located in many different places, including a fallopian tube, an ovary, the cervix, and the abdomen.

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy vary and may not occur until the structure containing the ectopic pregnancy ruptures. Most women have vaginal bleeding or spotting, cramping or pain in the lower abdomen, or both. Menstrual periods may or may not be late or missed. Some women do not suspect that they are pregnant.

• A pregnancy test

• Ultrasonography

• Blood tests

• Sometimes laparoscopy

Doctors suspect an ectopic pregnancy in women who are of childbearing age and who have lower abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, faint, or go into shock. In such women, a pregnancy test is done.

If the pregnancy test is positive or, rarely, if the test is negative but symptoms still suggest ectopic pregnancy, ultrasonography is done using a handheld device inserted into the vagina (called transvaginal ultrasonography). If ultrasonography detects a fetus in a location other than its usual place in the uterus, the diagnosis is confirmed. If ultrasonography does not detect a fetus anywhere, ectopic pregnancy is still possible, or the pregnancy may be in the uterus but be so early that it cannot be seen.

Doctors also do blood tests to measure a hormone produced by the placenta early in pregnancy called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This test can help doctors determine whether the pregnancy is too early for the fetus to be visible in the uterus or is an ectopic pregnancy.

If needed to confirm the diagnosis, doctors may use a viewing tube called a laparoscope, inserted through a small incision just below the navel. This procedure enables them to view an ectopic pregnancy directly.

• Surgery

• Sometimes the drug methotrexate

An ectopic pregnancy must be ended as soon as possible to save the life of the woman.

During surgery, doctors remove the fetus and placenta and only the part of the fallopian tube that cannot be repaired. This approach increases the chance that repairing the fallopian tube can enable women to become pregnant. However, sometimes the tube cannot be repaired.

Rarely, the uterus is so damaged that a hysterectomy is required.

For small ectopic pregnancies that have not ruptured, one or more doses of the drug methotrexate, given by injection, can be used instead of surgery. The drug causes the ectopic pregnancy to shrink and disappear. Doctors do blood tests to measure hCG every week to determine whether treatment with methotrexate was successful. Occasionally, when methotrexate is not used or is unsuccessful, surgery is needed.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL VERSION