An ectopic pregnancy can feel frightening. If this is your first pregnancy experience, you likely have some scary questions racing through your mind.
What are my treatment options? Am I going to be ok? Can the fetus survive an ectopic pregnancy?
At Lex Specialty Clinic, our goal is to educate, empower, and support women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancies. In this blog, we’ll explain what ectopic pregnancy is, the symptoms and warning signs, and how you can create a treatment plan!
What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted somewhere outside of the uterus, such as the abdominal cavity, on an ovary, or in the fallopian tubes (also known as tubal ectopic pregnancy).[1]
An ectopic pregnancy can’t be carried to term, as the fertilized egg can’t survive outside of the uterus. For the pregnant woman, it can be a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate care.[2]
What are the Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy?
Initially, you may experience normal pregnancy symptoms, such as a missed period, nausea, or breast tenderness.[3] If you take a pregnancy test, it will be positive.[4] However, as the pregnancy progresses, the warning signs become clearer.
The early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include[5]:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, or pelvis
- Weakness or dizziness
Contact your doctor right away if you experience[6]:
- Shoulder pain (caused by blood leaking out of the fallopian tube)
- Fainting or extreme lightheadedness
- Severe pelvic or abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding
As the fertilized egg continues to grow, it will eventually cause the fallopian tube to rupture, which can lead to life-threatening bleeding within the abdomen.[7] You may then become extremely lightheaded, faint, and go into shock.[8] At this point, you would need to be taken to the emergency room to be treated surgically.
How is an Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy is to be sure that you’re pregnant. Your doctor will order a blood test to confirm your pregnancy.[9] Next, they’ll perform a transvaginal ultrasound to determine the exact location of the pregnancy.[10] They may also perform an abdominal ultrasound to see if you’re experiencing internal bleeding.[11]
How is an Ectopic Pregnancy Treated?
Once the ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, contact your healthcare provider to make a treatment plan. If the ectopic pregnancy is caught early and there’s no unstable bleeding, they may prescribe a medication that will stop the growth of the fetus and end the pregnancy. From there, they will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your hCG levels to ensure the pregnancy has ended.[12]
Ectopic pregnancies can also be treated surgically. If the fallopian tube has ruptured, a salpingectomy will be performed. In this procedure, both the ectopic pregnancy and the fallopian are removed. If the fallopian tube has not ruptured, a salpingostomy will be performed. In that case, the ectopic pregnancy is removed and the fallopian tube is left to heal on its own.[13]
The good news is that most ectopic pregnancies are discovered and treated early. Around 85% of cases are detected before a rupture happens. Surgery is mostly performed in severe circumstances, so early detection is key in preventing a rupture and, therefore, the need for invasive procedures![14]
Is an Ectopic Pregnancy Removal Considered an Abortion?
There’s a lot of confusion out there about whether or not abortion limitations will prevent women from getting treated for ectopic pregnancies. The short answer is no, an ectopic pregnancy removal is not considered an abortion.
The long answer: The CDC defines abortion as “an intervention performed by a licensed clinician (for instance, a physician, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, physician assistant) within the limits of state regulations, that is intended to terminate a suspected or known ongoing intrauterine pregnancy and that does not result in a live birth.” Ectopic pregnancy is not included in that definition.[15]
Additionally, there are no abortion laws that would prohibit women from receiving care for ectopic pregnancies. Even in other states where abortion is limited or banned, their laws include exceptions for medical emergencies. No woman will be legally charged for receiving treatment for ectopic pregnancy.
Free Ultrasounds in East Central, Minnesota
You don’t have to face this alone. Our compassionate team is here to help! Lex Specialty Clinic offers free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and a safe place to ask questions and get answers. Don’t wait another moment to get the care you deserve.
Give us a call at 763-689-4319 or make an appointment online today!
Please be aware that this article is for informational purposes only. Lex Specialty Clinic does not provide treatment for ectopic pregnancy, only free pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to confirm the state of your pregnancy. Upon the confirmation of the ectopic pregnancy, please meet with your primary healthcare provider as quickly as possible to receive treatment.
Sources
- Ectopic Pregnancy – Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. (2022, March 12). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088
- See source #1.
- See source #1.
- See source #1.
- Ectopic Pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 18). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9687-ectopic-pregnancy#symptoms-and-causes
- See source #1.
- See source #1.
- See source #1.
- Ectopic Pregnancy – Diagnosis & Treatment. Mayo Clinic. (2022, March 12). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372093
- See source #9.
- See source #9.
- See source #9.
- See source #9.
- Dvash, S., Cuckle, H., Smorgick, N., Vaknin, Z., Padoa, A., & Maymon, R. (2021, January 29). Increase rate of ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy during the covid-19 pandemic. European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7968738/
- CDC’s Abortion Surveillance System FAQS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/data-statistics/abortion-surveillance-system.html