An ectopic pregnancy is one of the very rare pathologies (12-14 ectopic pregnancies per thousand pregnancies) and is a malfunction in the complex process of life reproduction, during which the attachment of a fertilized egg takes place outside the uterus.
The reasons for this phenomenon are poor permeability (or complete obstruction) of the fallopian tubes or their low peristalsis. As a result, a fertilized egg cannot or does not have time to reach the uterus, attaches itself inside the tube and begins division.
So comes an ectopic pregnancy. Its types are determined by the place of attachment of the embryo. Distinguish between tubal (found much more often than others - 99% of the total number of ectopic pathologies), cervical, abdominal and ovarian ectopic pregnancies.
Definition of ectopic pregnancy.
It is very difficult to diagnose the onset of pathology even in a medical institution. The clinical symptoms of a developing pregnancy are blurred or contradictory. Often with ectopic pregnancy, menstruation goes on, but they can be meager or mismatched. Particular caution should be given to spotting, which appeared after the cessation of menstruation.
The answer to the question "how to determine an ectopic pregnancy yourself" simply does not exist.
The course and termination of an ectopic pregnancy.
It is clear that having attached in the “wrong” place, the embryo cannot develop, because the woman’s fallopian tubes (as well as the neck, ovaries or abdominal cavity) are not suitable for carrying the baby. Therefore, any ectopic pregnancy ends with interruption and death of the fetus.
Tubal pregnancy can last 6-8 weeks, depending on the place of attachment of the embryo and on the characteristics of the female body. Then it stops. This happens in one of the following ways.
The embryo exfoliates from the walls of the tube, accompanied by damage and severe bleeding. The embryo along with blood is thrown into the uterine cavity or into the abdominal cavity. A woman experiences severe pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by bloody discharge. This method of terminating an ectopic pregnancy is called a “tubal abortion” or “tubal miscarriage”. Immediate medical attention is required.
Rupture of the fallopian tube. It occurs as a result of the pressure that an actively developing fetus exerts on the tube at its attachment site. Fetal egg with blood is thrown into the abdominal cavity. This is an extremely dangerous situation for a woman, which can lead to death. It is accompanied by very strong sharp pains in the lower abdomen, decreased pressure, weakness, dizziness. The woman's pulse drops, pallor and rapid breathing are observed. Urgent hospitalization is needed.
Both described cases pose a serious danger to the life and health of a woman.
It should be remembered that a violation of tubal pregnancy can occur before even a doctor can determine an ectopic pregnancy. The following extreme state occurs very quickly. It is fraught with severe bleeding, serious damage to internal organs and loss of reproductive function.
Treatment and consequences of an ectopic pregnancy.
Treatment, in its essence, is an abortion (with the aim of causing the least harm to the female body) as soon as possible after determining the ectopic pregnancy has turned out. And the sooner the pathology is diagnosed, the more sparing the treatment method will be and the less severe the consequences.
Treatment (termination) of an ectopic pregnancy is carried out by surgical methods, the most preferred of which is laparoscopy. Its use is possible in cases where an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed in the early stages and spontaneous interruption has not begun. With a successful operation performed using optics and special surgical instruments, the risk of damage to the fallopian tube is minimal, therefore, it can be expected that the subsequent pregnancy will pass normally.
A more severe operation is tubotomy, during which a dissection of the phalopian tube is carried out, followed by extraction of the embryo and elimination of the consequences of bleeding. With this method of treatment, preserving the patency of the tube is possible, and therefore there are chances for a successful completion of a future pregnancy.
From the point of view of consequences for a woman, the most severe is tuboectomy. They resort to it in those cases when the pregnancy has entered the stage of spontaneous abortion and the woman’s life is in danger. Reproductive function in this case cannot be saved.
In conclusion, we recall the banal truth. To the question "how to determine an ectopic pregnancy" there is one answer. Only a doctor can diagnose this type of pathology after a fairly extensive and serious examination of a woman.