What is an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy is a life threatening condition affecting 1 in 80 pregnancies. Ectopic means out of place and an ectopic pregnancy is one which implants outside of the uterus. 95% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube (also known as tubal pregnancies) but it is possible to have an ectopic pregnancy in the ovaries, cervix or abdomen. Symptoms occur as the pregnancy grows. If not treated, the ectopic pregnancy can rupture and cause severe bleeding which may lead to collapse and maternal death.

What are the causes of an ectopic pregnancy?

The egg which is released at ovulation normally makes a journey from the ovary, into the fallopian tube where it may be fertilized by a sperm. Over the next few days the fertilized egg or embryo makes its way into the womb. In an ectopic pregnancy the fertilised egg or embryo gets stuck during this journey, in most cases in the fallopian tube. In the case of many ectopic pregnancies, it is not known why this happens. One of the most common reasons is damage to the tube due to conditions such as appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or surgery in the abdominal area. In other instances there is a problem with the walls of the tube, which interrupts the normal movement or wafting of the egg from the tube into the womb. This can happen in women who use contraceptive methods such as the coil and progesterone based contraceptive medications.

IVF and Ectopic pregnancies

Techniques such as IVF and ICSI are not risk-free. About 2-5% of clinical pregnancies are ectopic with IVF. The figure is higher for women with a history of previous ectopic pregnancy or tubal infertility. Despite the fact that the embryo(s) is transferred directly into the uterus through the cervix, it is still possible for it to migrate to the tubes, back out in the abdomen or ovaries, or onto the cervix and implant there. If you are undergoing either IVF or IUI treatment and you do get pregnant, keep an eye out for symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.

What are the symptoms?

• Abdominal pain. This pain can either be constant and severe, or can come and go. Generally this pain is on the side of the ectopic pregnancy but this is not always the case.

• Shoulder-tip pain.

• Vaginal bleeding- this bleeding is usually light and might also be constant or come and go.

• A late or missed menstrual period.

• Pain or diarrhoea during a bowel movement.

• Pain when passing urine.

• Nausea.

• A positive urine pregnancy test. However, in some cases of ectopic pregnancy a urine pregnancy test is negative.

• Feeling light headed or faint or actual collapse. The symptoms vary from woman to woman and this can make the diagnosis difficult.

How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?

The main methods of diagnosis are:

• the measurement of the pregnancy hormone beta hCG in the blood

• a vaginal ultrasound scan

• laparoscopy

Measurement of hCG is used to determine whether or not the pregnancy is ‘healthy’. In normal early pregnancy the level of hCG in the blood usually doubles every two days. In ectopic pregnancy, the levels are usually lower and rise more slowly. A vaginal ultrasound scan is performed by inserting a probe into the vagina (this is more accurate than an abdominal scan, which would reveal very little at this early stage of pregnancy). Approximately 5-6 weeks after the last menstrual period, a healthy pregnancy can be seen in the womb. The womb appears empty when the pregnancy is ectopic. Occasionally it may be possible to see the pregnancy outside the womb, for example, in the fallopian tube. Laparoscopy is an operation performed under general anaesthetic where a telescope (laparoscope) is placed in the umbilicus to obtain a direct view of the pelvis, i.e. womb, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

What can be done to treat an ectopic pregnancy?

Unfortunately, an ectopic pregnancy cannot be saved. When this diagnosis is made, the treatment options depend on the age or size of the ectopic pregnancy. If there is any risk of rupture, the pregnancy must be removed.

• Monitoring clinical symptoms
  In some cases the ectopic pregnancy does not progress and it may be possible to manage the pregnancy without surgery, i.e. by monitoring the hCG levels until they fall and by using ultrasound scans.

• Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy)
  The surgeon can perform this procedure under general anaesthetic to examine the inside of the abdominal cavity and to remove the ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, it might be possible to remove the ectopic leaving the tube intact but if the ectopic is large, if the tube is badly damaged or if there is significant bleeding the tube and pregnancy will be removed together.

• Abdominal surgery (laparotomy)
  If the ectopic pregnancy has not been diagnosed soon enough or the woman presents with severe symptoms, then she may need open abdominal surgery to remove the ectopic. In this case, it is unlikely that the tube will be saved.

• Treatment with Methotrexate
  Methotrexate is a drug which is given in injection form to treat ectopic pregnancy, although it is not a suitable treatment in all cases. Regular monitoring with blood tests is required until the beta hCG levels fall to non-pregnant levels.

Your recovery

An ectopic pregnancy can be an overwhelming experience. It involves the loss of a pregnancy, often the physical recovery following surgery and blood loss, but also the uncertainty of your future fertility. It can be a very confusing time. Your physical recovery will differ depending on the treatment you may have had. Recovery from surgery will obviously take longer. It can take up to 6 weeks for the pregnancy hormones to dissipate and this can also be confusing to your recovering body. For your emotional recovery however, is not so easy to put a time frame on.

The loss of a pregnancy leads to the natural process of grief and all the emotions from anger and denial, through guilt and questioning and then onto deep sadness. There are many questions you may want the answers to; please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’. If you have any further queries please contact your GP or consultant.