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Questions women most often ask about Ectopic Pregnancies
How common are Ectopic Pregnancies?
Approximately 1 in 200 women have this type of pregnancy.
Why does it happen?
The most likely reason for the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy,
is damaged Fallopian tubes. This can be due to a number of things:
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), fertility being restored through
the reverse of sterilization, or, natural defects in the structure
of the tubes. There is also a slightly increased risk of a pregnancy
being ectopic in the case of a women conceiving whilst having an
intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) in place. However, an
ectopic pregnancy is not always the result of an obvious defect.
Is this a serious condition?
Yes, is left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy may be potentially
life-threatening, as there is a chance of the tube bursting,
resulting in serious internal bleeding.
How would a doctor diagnose an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancies are sometimes difficult to diagnose as it may at
first appear to be the beginnings of a miscarriage. The use of
ultrasound scanning may offer some indication, however, a
laparoscopy would prove more effective, as it would allow the doctor
a direct look inside the pelvis.
What would happen if an Ectopic Pregnancy was diagnosed?
The pregnancy would need to be terminated, and depending on the
severity of your condition, may result in an emergency operation.
what would the surgery for the removal of an Ectopic Pregnancy
entail?
In the event of an ectopic pregnancy being diagnosed by laparoscopy,
the surgeon will either remove the ectopic via laparotomy, whereby a
5 cm incision will be made across your lower abdomen, or by new
techniques using the laparoscope. If the tube is intact, the
pregnancy will be sucked out through a small incision in the tubal
wall. If, however, the ectopic has already caused the tube to burst,
the tube will need to be removed, this being known as a
salpingectomy.
What are my chances of conceiving after the removal of a tube?
Provided the other tube is normal, there is still a good chance of
conception taking place, although it may take a little longer.
Am I likely to have an Ectopic Pregnancy a second time?
Losing a baby, especially a 'wanted pregnancy' is a very traumatic
experience for a woman, and it would be advisable to receive
adequate counseling to help you overcome this grief.
It is possible (although unlikely), that the next pregnancy results
in ectopic, therefore your next pregnancy would need careful
monitoring - ultrasound scanning in the early weeks of a pregnancy
will offer peace of mind.
Both my tubes were removed as a result of an Ectopic Pregnancy,
does this mean that I can't have children?
Unfortunately, it would mean that you will be unable to conceive in
the normal way, however, it would be wrong to lose all hope. In your
case, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) may be an option worth
considering, especially if very much wanting a child of your own.
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