What occurs in an ectopic pregnancy?
1 Answer
Ectopic pregnancy is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo attaches outside the uterus.
Explanation:
It is also called as tubal pregnancy and most of them occur in the Fallopian tube. Implantation can occur on the cervix, ovaries , or within the abdomen.
Signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include increased hCG, vaginal bleeding, sudden lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain, a tender cervix, adnexal mass or adnexal tenderness.
Women who smoke have a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy as it damages or kills the cilia in the Fallopian tubes. As cilia degenerate, the amount of time it takes for the fertilised egg to reach the uterus will increase. If the fertilised egg doesn't reach the uterus in time, it hatches from the non adhesive zona pellucida and implants itself inside the Fallopian tube causing the pregnancy.
Other risk factors include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, use of intra uterine devices, endometriosis and tubal ligation.
The major health risk of ectopic pregnancy is rupture leading to internal bleeding.
