Pregnancy is said to be a life-changing experience for a woman. From the start of the pregnancy, a lady undergoes various changes in the body, externally as well as internally. Where pregnancy starts with the fertilization of the egg, this fertilized egg is generally attached to the lining of the uterus. In some cases, the fertilized egg tends to get implanted, fertilized and grow outside the main cavity of the uterus. This condition of egg growing and fertilizing outside the uterus is known as Ectopic Pregnancy. This condition of ectopic pregnancy generally occurs in the fallopian tubes that are responsible for carrying the eggs from ovaries to the uterus. It is not always the fallopian tube but sometimes this pregnancy occurs in the other parts of the body as well such as the cervix, ovaries or the lower uterus. Let us get into the details of the condition of Ectopic pregnancy and get to know about the symptoms, causes and risk factors of this condition from our expert Dr. Bharti Kalra, Head, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal.
What is Ectopic Pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy or extrauterine pregnancy is a condition that many women around the globe suffer though. Due to this condition of abnormal pregnancy the egg starts to get fertilized and grows outside the uterus in various other organs such as the cervix, fallopian tubes or the ovaries. As in this condition the egg gets fertilized outside the uterus, it is usually termed as
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the tubal pregnancy. This condition of tubal pregnancy can lead to many complications and in some cases it can be so severe that it might become life threatening. This happens due to the rapture of the tube which leads to heavy bleeding in the abdominal cavity. This can cause fainting, lightheadedness and even become a reason for shock to some women.
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Causes Of Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic Pregnancy is a condition that can be caused due to several conditions and is known to cause various complications. According to Dr. Bharti almost any women can get a ectopic pregnancy but the ones with a recurrent history of abortions,
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sexually transmitted diseases, blockage in tubes and the ones who have got pregnant with an old sperm are at a higher risk of getting affected by this condition. Here we have listed some of the most common causes of Ectopic Pregnancy observed in women-
- Sexually Transmitted Diseaes/ Infections (STD/STI)
- Fertility drugs
- Blockage in tubes
- Pregnancy with old sperm
- History of reccurant abortions
- Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases
- Smoking Cigarettes
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Tubal ligation reversal
- Vaginal Infection
- Use of Copper T
- Previous Ectopic Pregnancy
- Abdominal Tuberculosis infection
Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy
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Also Read: Abdominal Pain: All You Need To Know
Knowing about the causes of a condition is just not enough, one needs to be aware about the early signs and symptoms of a disease in order to get it treated. Looking at these symptoms can help you in getting a timely treatment and avoiding any further complications caused due to this condition of ectopic pregnancy. Here are some of the most common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy as explained by Dr. Bharti Kalra-
- Pelvic pain
- Dizziness
- Lower back pain
- Abnormally light bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Pain in rectum, neck and shoulder
- Upset stomach
- Weakness
- Pain in side body
Risk Factors
Where pregnancy itself brings along many changes in a woman’s body, both physically and mentally, ectopic pregnancy is a condition that is way too risky and can give rise to various health issues. For some this condition might not cause a lot many complications whereas for others it can be life threatening. Dr. Bharti Kalra says that- “In some cases ectopic pregnancy can turn out to be a life threatening condition as it goes unnoticed and the tubes might get raptured. Today where people are consuming emergency contraceptive pills and at home abortion pills without consulting the doctor. Due to this the tube gets raptured which leads to the bleeding in the abdominal cavity which can be life threatening.”
(With inputs from Dr. Bharti Kalra, Head, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal)