Ectopic Pregnancy treatment
High Risk Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy - an overview
From the initial fertilisation to the final delivery, pregnant women go through different steps. Fertilisation is the first step, where a fertilised egg travels to the uterus and attaches itself to the lining of your uterus. In Ectopic pregnancy, the fertilised egg doesn’t attach to the uterus and mainly grows outside the uterus.
If the fertilised egg ruptures, it causes life-threatening bleeding. So, early intervention and ectopic pregnancy treatment are crucial to reduce further complications and increase the chance of future healthy pregnancies.
Regarding women’s health, Dr Lida Anwari is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care. As a renowned gynaecologist and fetal medicine specialist in Dubai, she specialises in the routine care of the female reproductive system addressing high-risk pregnancies and fetal abnormalities.
What is Ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. Instead, it’s attached to the fallopian tube, cervix, or abdominal cavity. It’s impossible to continue pregnancy because only the uterus is capable of carrying a pregnancy.
Sometimes, ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening if your fallopian tube ruptures. The ruptured ectopic pregnancy causes severe infection and bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy treatment is a medical emergency.
What are the causes of ectopic pregnancy?
The causes are mostly unknown, but one reason could be damaged fallopian tubes. The damaged fallopian tube prevents fertilised eggs from entering your uterus. Some of the other causes linked with ectopic pregnancy include,
- Hormonal factors
- Genetic abnormalities
- Congenital disabilities
- Fallopian tube inflammation due to previous surgeries, infection, or injury.
- Medical conditions affect the condition and shape of reproductive organs or fallopian tubes.
What are the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?
Some symptoms are common in uterine and ectopic pregnancies. Some additional symptoms indicate a medical emergency,
- Rectal pressure
- Sharp or adverse pain in the pelvis, abdomen, shoulder, or neck
- Severe pain that occurs in one side of the abdomen.
- Light to heavy vaginal bleeding
- Fainting or dizziness
If the following symptoms persist, you require immediate ectopic pregnancy treatment from a renowned fetal medicine specialist Dr Lida Anwari.
Steps to diagnose ectopic pregnancy
High HCG levels usually confirm your pregnancy. In a normal pregnancy, the levels increase every 48 to 72 hours. But in ectopic pregnancy, HCG levels may rise very slowly, plateau, or even decline. Ectopic pregnancy HCG levels are not a sole diagnosis technique; a doctor implements an ultrasound scan and other blood tests to confirm an ectopic pregnancy.
Transvaginal ultrasound is a scanning technique using sound waves to create images of the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes to diagnose ectopic pregnancy. Abdominal ultrasound confirms your pregnancy or evaluates internal bleeding.
Our doctor recommends a complete blood count test to identify anaemia or other signs of blood loss.
Ectopic pregnancy treatment
A fertilised egg cannot grow normally outside the uterus. So, ectopic pregnancy treatment aims at saving the mother’s life by removing the pregnancy from the fallopian tube.
Ectopic pregnancy treatment options include,
Expectant management
If you have mild symptoms or if the pregnancy is small, it’s closely monitored to check whether the pregnancy will dissolve itself.
How does it work?
- Undergo regular blood tests to check the HCG levels. If the hCG levels don't go down or if it increases, you require further treatment.
- You may experience vaginal bleeding.
- If you feel tummy pain, the doctor recommends paracetamol for pain relief.
- The doctor eventually changes the treatment option if you develop more severe symptoms.
Medications
Methotrexate is a medicine that stops the pregnancy from growing further. It’s given as a single injection. The doctor recommends further blood tests to confirm the medicine’s effect. If the medicine doesn’t work, you may require a second dose or surgery.
Surgery
Keyhole surgery or laparoscopic procedures are carried out to remove ectopic pregnancy. Salpingostomy and salpingectomy are laparoscopic surgeries used to remove an ectopic pregnancy.
A tiny incision is made on your abdomen or near the navel. After making the incision, the doctor inserts a thin tube with a light camera to view the fallopian tube and ectopic pregnancy.
In salpingostomy, the tube is left to heal on its own after removing the ectopic pregnancy. On the other hand, in a salpingectomy, the doctor removes both the pregnancy and the tube. The procedure depends on the amount of bleeding and signs of damaged fallopian tubes.
Emergency surgery
If you experience heavy bleeding, you need emergency surgery to remove ectopic pregnancy. The procedure is done laparoscopically or through laparotomy. In a few cases, fallopian tubes can be saved; however, a ruptured tube has to be removed.
The role of Fetal medicine specialist in Ectopic pregnancy
Most women have no early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy but consulting a fetal medicine specialist in the initial phase of pregnancy will reduce the complications associated with ectopic pregnancy.
Dr Lida plays a critical role in the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. Using ultrasound techniques, she locates the ectopic pregnancy and identifies the location of implantation. She offers the safest approach to remove and manage ectopic pregnancy.
Fetal medicine specialists are highly experienced in handling ectopic pregnancy. They provide detailed counselling indicating the risk associated with maternal health and provide emotional support to overcome the pregnancy loss. Moreover, women with a history of ectopic pregnancy have a chance of recurrence but Dr Lida ensures early monitoring and plan for subsequent healthy pregnancies.
For precise diagnosis, safe management, and optimal patient support consider Dr Lida, distinguished fetal medicine specialist in Dubai.
Why choose a fetal medicine specialist over Obgyn?
Fetal medicine specialist Dr Lida provides extra comfort during pregnancy and overcomes challenging situations.
- She monitors the health of mother and fetus
- Manage any unexpected maternal medical complications
- Treat pregnancies with obstetric complications
- Handle c-section or normal delivery
- Ensure post delivery support and care
- Identify the risk factors for future pregnancies.
Consulting Dr Lida, fetal medicine specialist will help you achieve a relaxed and healthy pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy treatment with Dr Lida - the best fetal medicine specialist in Dubai
Every woman is unique and requires comprehensive care in their reproductive journey! Dr Lida Anwari is a leading gynaecologist in Dubai with immense expertise in maternal fetal medicine. Guided by compassion and tailored treatment, she helps you navigate unexpected medical challenges.
Ectopic pregnancy is heartbreaking, but with quick recovery and care, she helps you achieve a healthy and successful pregnancy soon!
You deserve the best care! Consult Dr Lida today!
FAQ
No, the baby can’t grow or survive outside the uterus. It always results in ectopic pregnancy and pregnancy loss. It’s because fertilised eggs don’t get enough blood supply to grow outside the uterus.
You’re likely to have an ectopic pregnancy if you smoke, are older than 35 years, have a scar from a previous injury, have a previous ectopic pregnancy, etc.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue lining your uterus grows outside the uterus. It usually develops in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis. Scarring from such conditions prevents fertilised eggs from reaching the uterus and results in ectopic pregnancy.