Ectopic Pregnancy: Risks, Warning Signs and Treatment

What it is

The uterus (womb) is where a fetus grows during pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg grows in the wrong place, outside the uterus — usually in a fallopian tube, which carries eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Less often it grows in an ovary, the abdominal cavity or the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.

An ectopic pregnancy can't become a healthy pregnancy, because the egg can't grow there. If it continues, the fallopian tube can burst, causing internal bleeding — a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate surgery.

Who's at risk

It often happens because of a problem with the fallopian tubes, though sometimes the cause isn't clear. Risk factors include:

• a previous ectopic pregnancy;
• earlier pelvic, abdominal or fallopian tube surgery;
• certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pelvic inflammatory disease;
• endometriosis;
• getting pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD) or after a tubal ligation;
• smoking, being older than 35, and infertility treatments.

Symptoms

At first there may be no symptoms, or the usual signs of pregnancy — a missed period, tender breasts or nausea. Early signs of an ectopic pregnancy can be light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain.

Get medical care right away if you have:

• abdominal (belly) pain;
• shoulder pain;
• vaginal bleeding;
• feeling dizzy or faint.

Diagnosis and treatment

An ectopic pregnancy can't be diagnosed without blood tests and an ultrasound. Your provider will confirm the pregnancy with a pregnancy test and may do a pelvic exam for pain, tenderness or a mass.

It must be treated to prevent damage to your organs: your provider will use medicine or surgery to remove the ectopic tissue.

Coping

Losing a pregnancy can be devastating. An ectopic pregnancy is like a miscarriage, but it must be treated to prevent problems. People grieve in different ways, and talking with your provider or a counselor may help. Many women who have had an ectopic pregnancy go on to have healthy pregnancies later.

Sources

Based on "Ectopic Pregnancy," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health; a work of the United States government in the public domain.