Cervical pregnancy is very rare. This is a serious pathology, often leading to death. If you find suspicious symptoms, secretions or worsening well-being, a woman urgently needs to seek medical help.
What is cervical pregnancy, and how is it dangerous?
You need to know
This pathology refers to one of the forms of ectopic pregnancy. A fetal egg with this diagnosis is attached outside the uterine cavity, namely in its cervical canal. Symptoms of an abnormal process are most often bleeding of varying severity.
In gynecology, an ectopic pregnancy (cervical form) is divided into the following types:
- proximal (abdominal, ovarian and tubular);
- distal (cervical and cervical-isthmus).
The first type of pathology is much more common than the second. The distal form of an ectopic pregnancy is a very rare occurrence.
Such a diagnosis is a great danger to a woman and entails a series of irreversible processes that threaten her life. Severe internal bleeding and a purulent inflammatory process are the main problems that, in an unfavorable situation, can lead to death.
Cervical Pregnancy: Symptoms
Since the place where the fetal egg was attached in this case has a completely different purpose, the decidual membrane does not develop. Chorionic villi begin to break through the walls of the neck, rupture its vessels. As a result, severe bleeding occurs.
Symptoms of cervical pregnancy depend on the degree of implantation of the ovum and the current gestational age. The first sign of this pathology is a slight blood discharge after a long delay in the menstrual cycle.
Pain in cervical pregnancy does not occur. The nature of the bleeding can be of varying intensity - scarce or profuse.
It is difficult to imagine what an ectopic pregnancy is fraught with for a woman. In the early stages (6-8 weeks), severe bleeding may occur. In this case, the woman requires urgent hospitalization.
Cervical isthmus pregnancy
This is a rare and unusual pathology. It is characterized by the attachment of a fetal egg outside the uterine cavity, in the area of its isthmus (lower section). This anomaly refers to the distal form of an ectopic pregnancy.
There are no clinical signs during vaginal diagnosis. The main symptomatology is also not detected. Very often, cervical-isthmal pregnancy is mistaken for placenta previa.
It is difficult to identify this form of ectopic pregnancy. The doctor may suggest its presence with spotting, which intensifies with an increase in gestational age.
What does a pregnancy test show?
In the presence of such a pathology, the first alarming bell may be spotting spotting, much poorer than usual. Therefore, a woman may not even suspect that she is in a position. It is best to consult a doctor who will find out the cause of the changes in the menstrual cycle, or do the test yourself.
Basically, his result is positive. However, the stripes on the test are softly colored, barely distinguishable. The low content of chorionic hormone (hCG) in the blood, the detection of which is a sign of pregnancy, can directly indicate the existence of a pathology.
With a delay in menstruation, spotting and a weakly positive test, a woman needs to see a doctor urgently. During the examination, the gynecologist will immediately pay attention to the discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the pregnancy. If more than 4 weeks have passed, the doctor will easily detect pathological formations in the area of the uterine tubes.
Diagnostics
If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, the gynecologist prescribes an ultrasound procedure and a blood test to determine the level of hCG (hormone). Very often during the diagnostic examination, other pathologies can be detected, namely:
- fibromyoma;
- miscarriage;
- uterine fibroids.
To diagnose a cervical form of an ectopic pregnancy, a complete gynecological examination is performed. In this case, the following are revealed:
- cyanosis of the cervix;
- movement of the external pharynx to the side;
- the fetal egg is attached to the walls of the cervix, bleeding occurs upon palpation;
- the size of the cervix is enlarged and much larger than its body.
Ultrasound gives the most accurate and reliable indicators. With the lumen of the cervical canal, an attached fetal egg is immediately detected.
Causes
Cervical pregnancy may occur for up to 12 weeks. Usually it ends with a spontaneous miscarriage. Cervical isthmus pregnancy can develop from 16 to 24 weeks. In very rare cases, these forms of distal gestation occur until the end of the prescribed period.
The main causes of these pathologies are:
- frequent abortions;
- endometritis;
- complex birth with external and internal injuries;
- isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
- gynecological curettage;
- ECO;
- uterine fibroids.
The main cause of cervical pregnancy is an abnormal condition of the endometrium and underdevelopment of trophoblast.
Treatment
For a woman's health, a cervical pregnancy is a very big danger. Treatment carried out immediately. The woman is hospitalized, she undergoes a procedure for stopping bleeding using a tight tamponade sewn on the sides of the vagina.
A circular suture is applied in the cervical region, a Foley catheter is inserted into its channel . Ligation and embolization of the internal arteries is performed. With the help of such manipulations, it is possible to extract the fetal egg. It is possible to perform an operation to remove one or two fallopian tubes.
An incorrect attempt to cure the uterus or separate the placenta can lead to heavy bleeding with fatal outcome. Tamponade or suturing in this case does not help, since large vessels are opened.
In rare cases, the only way out is to remove the uterus. This operation is carried out urgently if it is impossible to stop the blood or keep the organs, which often results in cervical pregnancy. The treatment after such surgery is difficult and long.
Prevention
In order to avoid any form of ectopic pregnancy, a woman needs to carefully monitor her health, to avoid unwanted conception.
The main preventive measures are:
- use of contraceptives;
- timely visit to the gynecologist;
- avoidance of abortion;
- treatment of any gynecological ailments;
- regular maintenance of the menstrual calendar;
- compliance with the gentle conditions of the recovery period after any gynecological surgery (to avoid complications).
The first thing a woman should do with a positive pregnancy test is to visit a doctor and register. An experienced gynecologist is able to identify any pathology at an early stage and will help to avoid terrible consequences.
Rehabilitation
Cervical pregnancy is a very unusual and unpredictable pathology. Usually it is interrupted in the first half of the gestational period. A serious problem is the difficult diagnosis, which leads to rupture of the uterine tubes and the occurrence of fatal bleeding.
Termination of an ectopic pregnancy is a huge stress for a woman. However, do not despair. You need to make every effort to undergo a successful treatment, recovery period and prepare for a repeated, favorable pregnancy.
A woman experiences severe depression after undergoing surgery to remove the uterus. It is prescribed if a cervical ectopic pregnancy has occurred. After the operation, the patient needs psychological help, since it is very difficult to survive such a loss on her own.
There is a chance!
Pregnancy is possible if a woman has even removed both fallopian tubes. In this case, IVF is performed. Be sure to tell the patient about this possibility after surgery.
If one tube is removed, the risk of re-ectopic pregnancy is very high. A woman needs to go through a long recovery period, use contraception for a while.
During the planning of pregnancy and its course, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations, listen to his advice. If a woman has undergone surgery, she needs to strictly adhere to bed rest, not lift weights, eat well.
Take care of your health, lead an active life, be happy, and then you will have a strong healthy baby!