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It affects around 1 in 80 pregnancies. It can be life-threatening.
It affects around 1 in 80 pregnancies. It can be life-threatening.
An ectopic pregnancy is where the fertilised egg implants outside of the uterus lining. Its most likely to occur in the fallopian tube, but there are several other sites where it could implant instead.
Sadly, it is not possible to move the pregnancy from where it has implanted to the uterus lining.
Ectopic pregnancies can cause damage to where they have implanted, which makes the pregnancy not possible to continue.
There is no right or wrong way to feel about this. You did not cause any of this; it is never your fault! 💜
95% are in the fallopian tube.
3% are interstitial (still in the fallopian tube but in the part which crosses into the uterus.
The remaining 2% are in other less common areas, such as on the cervix, in the ovary, in the uterus muscle, in the abdomen, etc.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust (2021). What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Diagram showing where ectopic pregnancies are most likely to happen.
For more information about different types of ectopic pregnancies, please visit The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.
Symptoms you may have experienced
Symptoms you may have experienced
Not all people will experience symptoms; some may only find out when it is picked up on an ultrasound.
The most common symptoms experienced with an ectopic pregnancy are:
lower tummy/stomach pain
vaginal bleeding
shoulder tip pain (caused by internal bleeding irritating the diaphragm)
bladder or bowel problems
collapse
But these can also happen with other types of pregnancy loss or even be a sign of a normally situated pregnancy, so it's always best to have this checked out.
Symptoms could occur from as early as 4 weeks and could continue up to 12 weeks or even later.
Treatments you might have
Treatments you might have
There are several treatments that you might have for your ectopic pregnancy, as it depends on the location, symptoms, damage to the area and hCG levels.
Expectant management
If there are no/mild symptoms and it is early on through the pregnancy they your condition might just be closely monitored, and the pregnancy might end on its own.
You'll have regular blood tests to check your hCG hormone level is going down, and this will continue till the hormone is gone. - You might need further treatment if this doesn't happen.
vaginal bleeding may occur - using pads or towels is better than tampons until this stops.
Abdominal/stomach pain may happen - paracetamol may help relieve this.
You should not experience any side effects from this treatment, but there is a small risk of your fallopian tube rupturing, so you might need further treatment.
Medical management
If an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed early in pregnancy, but active monitoring is not a suitable option, treatment using medicine may be needed. If that is the case, then a drug called methotrexate may be given.
Methotrexate is given as a single injection into your buttocks. This drug works by stopping the pregnancy from growing.
Sometimes a second dose may be needed or surgery if it doesn't work.
It is best to avoid getting pregnant in the next 3 months, as it can be harmful for a baby if you get pregnant again during this time - contraception is heavily recommended.
Alcohol should also be avoided as drinking after a dose of methotrexate can cause liver damage.
There are several side effects of methotrexate, which include stomach pain, dizziness, feeling/being sick and diarrhoea.
There is still a risk of your fallopian tube rupturing, so you'll be told what to look out for in case this does happen.
Surgical management
Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) will be done to remove the pregnancy.
You will be put under general anaesthesia.
Small cuts are made into your abdomen, and a thin viewing tube (laparoscope) and small surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions.
They will remove the entire fallopian tube where the pregnancy is contained if your other fallopian tube is healthy. If not, they will attempt to remove the pregnancy without removing the whole fallopian tube.
Removing the affected fallopian tube is the most effective treatment and is not believed to reduce your ability to get pregnant again.
This should all be discussed beforehand, and your consent given to the doctors performing the procedure.
Most people can leave the hospital a few days after surgery, but a full recovery can last between 4 and 6 weeks.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Most the time, the actual cause of the ectopic pregnancy is unknown. There are a few factors which could cause it, and there are some known triggers or risk factors which can contribute to increasing the chances of it happening.
Triggers/Risk factors include:
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PI) - past infections of the fallopian tubes, usually caused by STIs, are a leading cause
Previous Tubal Surgery - past surgery on the fallopian tubes can cause scarring and blockages
Endometriosis - A condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows elsewhere, which can cause scar tissue and inflammation in the pelvic area.
Previous Ectopic Pregnancy
Fertility treatments
Contraceptive devices - becoming pregnant while using an IUD/coil or the progesterone-only pill increases the risk
Smoking
Other abdominal surgeries
(NHS, 2019; The Ectopic Pregancy Trust 2021a; The Ectopic Pregnacy Trust 2021b; NHS 2022)
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