What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy? In fact, the development of a fertilized egg outside the uterus in the wrong place, an ectopic pregnancy, or an ectopic pregnancy usually leads to the emergence of many symptoms; But the affected woman may not feel any of these symptoms at the beginning of an ectopic pregnancy, or sometimes the initial symptoms of a normal pregnancy may appear, such as: absence of a period, nausea, and breast pain, in addition to the positive result of the pregnancy screening test.

It should be noted that the infected woman usually begins to feel the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy if they appear in the period between the fourth week to the twelfth week of pregnancy, so the symptoms and signs are not sufficient to judge an ectopic pregnancy, and in general the symptoms and signs that are related to An ectopic pregnancy occurs in the following:

Initial symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

The initial symptoms depend largely on the location of the bleeding, if it occurs, as well as on the affected nerves. In general, the initial symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can be summarized as follows:

• Pain in the pelvic area, which is often the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy.

• Light vaginal bleeding.

• Feeling severe pain in the abdomen, discomfort in the pelvic area, or increased bowel movement, if the bleeding is from the fallopian tubes.

• Feeling pain in the shoulder head area, (Shoulder tip). When lying down, the victim may feel pain in the area where the shoulder meets the arm, which is an indication that the ectopic pregnancy has caused internal bleeding, as it is believed that the accumulation of blood in the pelvic and abdominal areas causes the feeling with pain originating at a site far from the causative agent, which in this case arises in the region of the head of the shoulder, with stimulation from the Phrenic nerve; It is the nerve located in the diaphragm muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen...

Emergency symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

There are many emergency symptoms that may occur as a result of an ectopic pregnancy. The continued growth of the fertilized egg in the fallopian tube may lead to the rupture of the tube, especially if the case is neglected and not to receive the necessary medical care. In such cases, severe internal bleeding in the abdomen is likely, which leads to To the feeling of severe dizziness, up to fainting.

You may also have severe abdominal pain, and you may develop many life-threatening symptoms; Such as: severe dizziness, fainting, severe abdominal pain, and shock (shock) related to the circulatory system, a condition that results from the lack of blood flow to the organs, which leads to a state of lack of oxygen and nutrients necessary for the organs to function properly, and it is a life-threatening condition; And it requires a quick medical intervention, because it may cause damage to the various organs of the body.

Accordingly, it can be said that the problem of ectopic pregnancy requires quick medical intervention. When the necessary medical measures are taken, an ectopic pregnancy does not cause significant problems.

In general, the patient is advised to visit a doctor to obtain appropriate treatment in the event of severe pelvic or abdominal pain during pregnancy, severe dizziness, fainting, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or other symptoms associated with an ectopic pregnancy. Especially if the pregnant woman is one of the women who are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. It should be noted that there are many factors that increase this, including:

• Presence of an ectopic pregnancy.

• Performing a fallopian tube surgery.

• Smoking before pregnancy.

• Infections or infections in the reproductive system.

• The use of multiple techniques that assist in reproduction.

• Pregnancy occurred despite the use of the intrauterine device (IUD), as a method of regulating pregnancy, or the occurrence of pregnancy after the fallopian tube ligation process, as a permanent method of contraception.

Post ectopic pregnancy

Choosing the right treatment for an ectopic pregnancy depends on the period in which the condition was diagnosed. In the case of early diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe methotrexate, a drug that stops the growth of the fetus outside the womb, and the woman is usually injected with a single dose of methotrexate, but if the ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed after a longer time, you may need to use another dose. of it, or surgery may be resorted to.

In the event of a rupture at the site of the ectopic pregnancy, which may result from severe internal bleeding or shock; The doctor resorts to surgery to end this pregnancy, remove the cells from there and stop the bleeding, if any, and the doctor may need to remove the fallopian tubes in some cases, and it should be noted that removing one of the fallopian tubes does not affect the work and efficiency of the other fallopian tubes in the female reproductive system.

Symptoms after treatment of an ectopic pregnancy

The patient may feel some symptoms after getting rid of the ectopic pregnancy and its treatment, as she may continue to feel pregnancy symptoms, because the level of the pregnancy hormone (HCG) may remain high for some time after treatment, and the patient may suffer from irregular menstruation, which may take some time. In addition, she may feel some fatigue and pain in the abdomen, and the doctor may prescribe some medications for this.

It should be noted that the victim may suffer from the aforementioned symptoms, depending on the treatment that was used; Whether the treatment is surgery or administering methotrexate, it is worth noting the importance of receiving psychological support after experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, which is a difficult experience due to the loss of pregnancy.

Tips after an ectopic pregnancy

In fact, a woman who previously suffered from an ectopic pregnancy is more likely to occur again in subsequent pregnancies, as we mentioned earlier, hence the importance of periodic follow-up of pregnancy with a gynecologist, to ensure that the fetus is in the correct position inside the uterus, and it is also advised not to neglect any A sign or symptom that may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

Waiting time before trying to get pregnant again

Although there is no clear research evidence of how long a woman should wait to try to conceive after treatment for an ectopic pregnancy, it is recommended to delay trying to conceive again for three months or after at least two complete menstrual cycles, whichever comes first.

This is to allow the menstrual cycle to return to its normal state, in addition to ensuring recovery from any problems associated with the occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy and the treatment used to eliminate it; Such as the occurrence of internal infections and bruises, as well as to ensure the demise of any effects of methotrexate on the various cells of the body, including reducing the level of folate, which is important to reduce the possibility of the fetus developing various neural tube defects.

Therefore, folate should be prescribed to a woman for 12 weeks before trying to conceive, and delaying trying to conceive again helps reduce the possibility of a recurrence of an ectopic pregnancy, or a miscarriage if the pregnancy occurred immediately, and all of the above helps to restore the good mental health of women after going through the experience ectopic pregnancy

Chances of a natural pregnancy

Every woman who has experienced an ectopic pregnancy wants a natural pregnancy, and this depends largely on the efficiency and health of the fallopian tubes, and in general, the rate of natural pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy is very good, even if the doctor resorts to surgery and removes one of the fallopian tubes to treat pregnancy outside the womb.

For a normal pregnancy to occur, the integrity of the remaining fallopian tubes, the presence of at least one ovary capable of producing a normal egg, and the occurrence of ovulation in each menstrual cycle, where the fertilized egg in the ovary on the side where the fallopian tube was removed can implant in the uterus with the help of a canal The other fallopian tubes are on the other side, so a normal pregnancy can occur for a woman who has one fallopian tube.

In the case of the removal of the tubes, it should be noted that there is a chance of a natural pregnancy through various reproductive techniques, including in vitro fertilization, known as IVF.

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