Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is one that occurs outside the uterus. In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tubes to finally reach the uterus, where the hormones of the woman's body have created an adequate mucosa for cellular division to occur, leading to the formation of an embryo.
In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg encounters some type of obstruction on its way to the uterus, remaining trapped without being able to reach the place that the woman's body has prepared for its growth. Generally, in this type of pregnancy, the egg remains in the fallopian tubes, although pregnancies can also occur where it remains trapped in the ovaries or in the abdominal cavity.
When the fertilized egg does not reach the uterus, its development as a consequence of cellular division poses serious health problems for the woman. The fallopian tubes, the main place where the fertilized egg remains trapped in ectopic pregnancies, are very narrow ducts, so that the growth of the egg can lead to the rupture of the tubes.
Factors of an ectopic pregnancy
There are various causes that can result in an ectopic pregnancy. The main factors that can lead to this type of pregnancy are: The fertilized egg may have disproportionate dimensions. It may occur that the egg is too large to pass through the fallopian tubes. In this case, it will be blocked in one of them as it cannot complete its movement. Slow movement of the egg. If for some reason the movement of the egg that will take it to the uterus is slower than normal, it may not reach its objective, causing the development of said egg in the wrong place.
Having the tubes tied, known as tubal surgery. Women who have undergone this treatment to avoid pregnancies have an obstruction in their tubes, so that, in case fertilization occurs, the passage of the egg becomes impossible, increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Similarly, those women who have undergone tubal reanastomosis surgery to become pregnant again present a higher risk of experiencing this type of ectopic pregnancies. Having suffered from pelvic inflammatory disease. Having suffered an infection in the upper reproductive tract, usually caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections, is a triggering factor for ectopic pregnancies. Having experienced a previous ectopic pregnancy. Having gone through this type of pregnancy previously increases the likelihood of experiencing it again by between 10 and 25 percent.
The age. The rate of ectopic pregnancies increases with the age of the woman, being higher in women between 35 and 44 years old.
IUD. Women with an intrauterine device, in the rare case that they become pregnant, have many possibilities of it being ectopic. Presence of endometriosis.
Congenital defects in the fallopian tubes.
Consumption of tobacco. Smoking women are twice as likely to suffer from an ectopic pregnancy. This is because nicotine can paralyze the cilia found in the lining of the fallopian tubes, which are responsible for carrying the fertilized egg to the uterus.
Signs of ectopic pregnancy
The signs that indicate the presence of an ectopic pregnancy are often not clear. In the majority of cases, the same symptoms are experienced as in a classic pregnancy, that is, nausea, fatigue, weakness. Only some women may present signs that alert about the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. The main symptoms to consider are: Very strong pain in the lower abdomen. It initially occurs only on one side. This pain can be felt when urinating, when evacuating, when coughing, or when making sudden movements. Many women with ectopic pregnancies experience nausea and dizziness, as well as fainting or weakness. Low back pain and shoulder pain. Some women also experience pressure in the rectum.
Can an ectopic pregnancy be detected? The tests to detect the presence of this type of pregnancy are conducting a pregnancy test and a vaginal ultrasound.
How to prevent it
There is no way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy; only the probabilities of it occurring can be reduced by avoiding infections that could cause scarring of the fallopian tubes and thus their obstruction. To do this, it is advisable to practice safe sex, taking measures to avoid contracting infections. In the event that an infection occurs, it is vital to receive appropriate treatment for it. Another point that reduces the occurrence of this type of pregnancy is to avoid tobacco consumption.
Can an ectopic pregnancy be aborted
In some cases, the ectopic pregnancy aborts naturally, but in others, the use of pharmacological or surgical treatments is necessary to prevent the damage that this type of pregnancy can cause to the woman's body.
