Ectopic pregnancy: symptoms

An extrauterine (or ectopic) pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg does not nestle in the uterus, but in other tissues of the reproductive system and therefore the embryo cannot develop and the pregnancy is terminated.

Let’s see together what are the symptoms, complications, causes and treatments of this type of pathology.

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

In general, the most common symptoms are represented by:

• abdominal pain often located on one side
• dark blood loss
• weakness and dizziness
• shoulder pain (reflex pain)

In these cases, in general, the egg nestles in the wall of the tubes (we speak of tubal pregnancy).

Statistically it occurs once in 200 and, when it happens, the embryo cannot develop normally nor survive .

How does an ectopic pregnancy happen?

Every month a woman experiences ovulation in which an egg cell is released from one of the two ovaries. The day of ovulation determines when a woman is fertile.

The emitted oocyte is “captured” by the tube and begins its journey in it. During the journey in the tubes to the uterus it can be fertilized by a sperm.

The fallopian tubes are about 10 cm long and are lined internally with hair-like structures called cilia. These cilia move to push the fertilized egg along the fallopian tubes towards the uterus where implantation can take place which will allow the embryo to develop.

In an ectopic or ectopic pregnancy, implantation takes place outside the uterus and in most cases in one of the fallopian tubes. Since this space is not suitable for embryonic growth, the fertilized egg cannot develop and the pregnancy is terminated.

Complications of ectopic pregnancy

If not detected in time, an ectopic pregnancy can cause serious complications for the mother .

Normally, cilia within the fallopian tube help push the fertilized egg into the uterus. If the fallopian tubes are damaged and have even partial obstruction (due to pelvic inflammatory disease for example) the sperm is able to pass but the fertilized oocyte is too large to do so and is therefore implanted in the tube itself.

1. Pelvic inflammatory disease  (PID): PID is caused by an infection of the genital tract, usually due to bacteria that spreads from the vagina or cervix into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
2. Previous ectopic pregnancy : A woman who has previously experienced an ectopic pregnancy has a slightly increased risk of experiencing another ectopic pregnancy in the future.
3. Abnormalities of the fallopian tubes : An abnormality of the fallopian tubes can be kinks or scars and adhesions caused by a previous infection, PID, previous surgeries including even an unsuccessful sterilization procedure.
4. Fertility treatments : Treatments a woman undergoes to stimulate ovulation can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy
5. Some contraceptive devices : IUDs can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
6. Smoking : Female smokers have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy
7. Age : Women over the age of 35 have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

What happens in case of ectopic pregnancy?

Surgery is usually performed , the tube is opened, the embryo is removed and then, if possible, the tube is reconstructed.

The intervention must be as timely as possible otherwise the risk is the export of the tuba itself. Such removal could reduce the woman’s fertility even though it is usually possible to get pregnant again without problems.

For those who have already had an ectopic pregnancy, there is a greater chance that it will happen again and therefore it is important to have a control ultrasound as soon as possible when a new pregnancy occurs.