What is an ectopic pregnancy ?
Ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg becomes implanted outside the womb (uterus) - it is a complication of pregnancy which occurs in about 1 in 100 pregnancies, although
some figures suggest it could be in the region of 1 in 50 pregnancies.
In an ectopic pregnancy the most common place for fertilization to happen is in the fallopian tube - hence the term tubal pregnancy - approximately 95% of all ectopic pregnancies are tubal pregnancies - the
remaining 5% of ectopic pregnancies can occur in other possible places such as the ovary or cervix or other locations...
Many of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are typical in a normal pregnancy - symptoms such as vaginal bleeding - pain in the abdomen - nausea - sore breasts - it can be difficult to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy.
Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy
During pregnancy the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is produced - HCG levels increases by 100% every 48 hours or so in a normal pregnancy - if HCG rises at a slower level it can indicate a problem pregnancy - even in ectopic pregnancies, a woman may have a high HCG level and no obvious sign that there is a complication in the pregnancy - Ultrasound testing can be used in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy - more recently a technique called laparoscopy is employed - you should always consult your doctor as soon as you suspect or know that you are pregnant...