If you have an ectopic pregnancy a senior obstetrician will advise you on the treatment that's most suitable for you. Show
This will depend on:
Treatment options might include:
Medical treatmentMedical treatment is the injection of a drug called methotrexate. This prevents the ectopic pregnancy from growing. You may need to return to the clinic or the ward a few days after the injection. You'll be advised on who to contact if you experience any symptoms. The main advantage of having methotrexate treatment is that you will not need to have surgery or take a general anaesthetic. It may be the safest option if:
Longer wait to get pregnant againThe main disadvantage is having to wait longer to try to get pregnant again. Methotrexate is a drug used in chemotherapy. It stays in your cells for 12 weeks. You should not try to get pregnant again for 12 weeks after getting methotrexate. Use contraception during this time. Medical treatment also takes longer to remove the pregnancy than surgery. You'll need to be followed up by your obstetrician for a longer period of time, possibly 3 weeks. 15% of women will need a second injection of methotrexate. 7 in 100 women with an ectopic pregnancy will need to have surgery. Surgical treatmentThis means having an operation under general anaesthetic to remove the ectopic pregnancy. This is normally a laparoscopy, which is a type of keyhole surgery. A small cut is made in your tummy and the fertilised egg is removed. The fallopian tube, or part of the fallopian tube, is normally removed too. Open surgery (known as a laparotomy) may be needed if there is internal bleeding, or in an emergency situation. This is done through a larger cut in your tummy. The medical team will send any tissue removed during an operation to a laboratory to test. Speak to your doctor about what happens after this. Surgical treatment will treat the ectopic pregnancy more quickly than medical treatment. You may not need to be followed up for as long a period of time. The recovery time from laparoscopy surgery is usually 4 to 6 weeks. Discuss your treatment with your doctorAfter you've been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, your doctor should discuss your treatment options with you. This will help you to make an informed decision. Make sure you understand:
Ask for more information if there is something you do not understand. Disposing of pregnancy remainsHospital staff should explain the options available for disposal of the pregnancy remains. This will be done in a sensitive manner. They will help you make a decision that is right for you. If you do not wish to make a decision about your pregnancy remains, the hospital can make a decision for you. They can dispose of the remains. Getting supportSupport is available from:
Read about what happens after an ectopic pregnancy. Facts are important, and essential care must never be legislated or regulated based on false or inaccurate premises. This includes lifesaving treatment of ectopic pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows in a location that cannot support the pregnancy. Almost all ectopic pregnancies—more than 90%—occur outside of the uterine cavity in a fallopian tube, but they can also implant in the abdomen, cervix, ovary, and cesarean scar. An ectopic pregnancy in any location is life threatening. This is because as the pregnancy grows, it can cause the structure where it is implanted to burst, or rupture. A rupture can cause major internal bleeding and is a life-threatening emergency that requires urgent surgery. A tubal ectopic pregnancy will never be viable. It cannot move or be moved to a place in the uterus where it can safely grow to delivery. There are two methods used to treat a tubal ectopic pregnancy: medication and surgery. Treatment of a tubal ectopic pregnancy through medication works by preventing the cells in the pregnancy from growing. Medication can only be used for treatment in patients who are stable and whose ectopic pregnancy has not ruptured. Some patients, including those for whom medication is contraindicated or those who have a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, may require surgery. In a surgery for a tubal ectopic pregnancy, the entire pregnancy may be removed from a fallopian tube or the tube may be removed with the pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy in the cervix or cesarean scar may be removed with a dilation and curettage procedure. Treatment for ectopic pregnancy requires ending a nonviable pregnancy. This treatment exists within the spectrum of lifesaving care during pregnancy, including induced abortion that also ends a pregnancy. While the indication and treatment for ectopic pregnancies is distinct from the indication and provision of induced abortion, they are both essential, critical aspects of health care. Policies Impacting Ectopic PregnancyPatients with an ectopic pregnancy must have timely access to all treatment options.
Bans on Abortion Threaten Treatment for Ectopic PregnancyAbortion bans threaten to impede ectopic pregnancy treatment. For example ...
What is the most common treatment for ectopic pregnancy?The most common drug used to treat ectopic pregnancy is methotrexate. This drug stops cells from growing, which ends the pregnancy. The pregnancy then is absorbed by the body over 4–6 weeks. This does not require the removal of the fallopian tube.
How long is an ectopic pregnancy procedure?How long does the procedure take? It will normally take between thirty minutes to one hour, however if a laparotomy needs to be performed it may take longer. You should return to the ward one to two hours following a short time in recovery.
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What is the procedure for an ectopic pregnancy
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