How to determine an ectopic pregnancy and what is behind this issue

Ectopic pregnancy is one of very rare pathologies (for a thousand pregnancies there are 12-14 ectopic) and represents a malfunction in the most complicated process of reproducing life, during which the attachment of a fertilized egg occurs outside the uterus.

The causes of this phenomenon are poor permeability (or total obstruction) of the fallopian tubes or their low peristalsis. As a consequence, a fertilized egg can not or "does not have time" to reach the uterus, it is attached inside the tube and begins division.

So comes the ectopic pregnancy. Its types are determined by the attachment of the embryo. Distinguish tubular (it is much more common than others - 99% of the total number of ectopic pathologies), cervical, abdominal and ovarian ectopic pregnancies.

Definition of ectopic pregnancy.

It is very difficult to diagnose the onset of pathology, even in a medical institution. The clinical symptoms of a developing pregnancy are blurred or contradictory. Often, with ectopic pregnancy, menstruation occurs, but they may be scanty or do not match the timing. Particular alertness should cause bloody discharge, which appeared after the termination of menstruation.

The answer to the question "how to determine an ectopic pregnancy on its own" simply does not exist.

The course and termination of ectopic pregnancy.

It is clear that having attached to the "wrong place", the embryo can not develop, since the womb of the woman (as well as the cervix, ovaries or abdominal cavity) are not suitable for carrying the child. Therefore, any ectopic pregnancy ends with the interruption and death of the fetus.

Pipe pregnancy can last 6-8 weeks, depending on the location of the embryo and on the characteristics of the female body. Then it stops. This happens in one of the following ways.

1. There is a detachment of the embryo from the walls of the tube, accompanied by their damage and heavy bleeding. The embryo, together with blood, is thrown into the uterus cavity or into the abdominal cavity. A woman experiences severe pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by bloody discharge. This method of interrupting an ectopic pregnancy is called "tubal abortion" or "tubal miscarriage". Seek immediate medical attention.

2. Rupture of the fallopian tube. It occurs as a result of the pressure exerted by an actively developing fetus on the tube at its attachment point. A fetal egg, together with blood, is thrown into the abdominal cavity. This is an extremely dangerous situation for a woman, which can lead to death. It is accompanied by very severe sharp pains in the lower abdomen, a decrease in pressure, weakness, dizziness. The woman has a pulse, there is pallor and rapid breathing. Urgent hospitalization is necessary.

Both described cases pose a serious danger to the life and health of women.

It should be remembered that a violation of tubal pregnancy can occur before an ectopic pregnancy can be determined even by a doctor. The next extreme state comes very quickly. It is fraught with severe bleeding, serious damage to internal organs and loss of reproductive function.

Treatment and consequences of ectopic pregnancy.

Treatment is inherently an abortion (with the goal of causing the least harm to the female body) as soon as possible after the ectopic pregnancy has been determined. And the sooner the pathology is diagnosed, the more sparing will be the method of treatment and less severe consequences.

Treatment (interruption) of ectopic pregnancy is carried out by surgical methods, the most preferable of which is laparoscopy. Its use is possible in cases where an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed at an early stage and spontaneous interruption has not begun. With a successful operation performed with optics and special surgical instruments, the risk of damage to the uterine tube is minimal, so you can expect that the subsequent pregnancy will be normal.

The heavier operation is tubotomy, during which the fallopian tube is cut, followed by the extraction of the embryo and the elimination of the consequences of bleeding. With this method of treatment, maintaining the patency of the tube is possible, and therefore there are chances for a successful conclusion of a future pregnancy.

From the point of view of the consequences for a woman, the most difficult is the operation of tuboectomy. It is used in cases where pregnancy has entered a stage of spontaneous interruption and the life of a woman is at risk. Reproductive function in this case can not be maintained.

In conclusion, we recall the trivial truth. The question "how to determine an ectopic pregnancy" is one answer. Diagnosis of this type of pathology can only the doctor after a fairly extensive and serious examination of a woman.