An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the fertilized egg becomes implanted outside the uterus instead of in the wall of the uterus. About 1 in 100 pregnancies will begin growing outside of the normal place, and most commonly occurs in women between the ages of 20 and 29. Ectopic pregnancies are almost always found in one of the fallopian tubes (called a "tubal" pregnancy), but can also occur in the abdominal cavity, ovary, or cervical uteri. Women who have had an abortion, a sexually transmitted disease, narrow tubes, tumors in their pelvic organs, or endometriosis, are at greater risk of having an ectopic pregnancy than other women.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:

Abdominal pain, which can be sudden and sharp and remain continuously or seem to come and go. The pain can be stronger at some times than at others.

Shoulder pain may occur as blood from the area where the tube has ruptured builds up in the abdomen under the diaphragm.

Vaginal bleeding can be scant or heavy; it can last for days or come and go for weeks.

Other symptoms can include weakness, headache, dizziness, or generally not feeling well. It is very important that you call your doctor if there is any unusual pain or bleeding, even if you do not think there really is a problem. If an ectopic pregnancy is left untreated, it will rupture, causing internal bleeding.

Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy can be difficult, as many of the symptoms can be confusing. The doctor may perform some tests that will help confirm a suspected ectopic pregnancy.

Pelvic exam: This is an examination of the internal pelvic structures during which the doctor looks for signs of pregnancy, abnormal masses, or unusual pain.

Blood tests: These determine red and white blood cell counts, as well as determine pregnancy.

Ultrasound: This procedure allows the doctor to see inside the woman's body. The ultrasound machine uses short bursts of sound. The sound waves bounce off internal organs and are converted into an image on a television-like screen. The image is then examined to see if the pregnancy has implanted in the uterus, tube or elsewhere in the pelvic area.

Culdocentesis: This is a test that is done at the time of the pelvic exam to determine the presence of blood in a space behind the uterus called the "cul-de-sac."

Laparoscopy: This test is done in an operating room with anesthesia. A small incision is made in the woman's abdomen, and a special light-transmitting telescope is inserted through it, enabling the doctor to see the fallopian tubes and surrounding pelvic organs.

If an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, there are few options available. Some chemotherapeutic drugs have recently been used to treat early ectopic pregnancies - when successful, surgery is not necessary. If the ectopic pregnancy does not respond to the drugs, a laparoscopy is performed, and the baby is removed from the fallopian tube (or other location). Microsurgical techniques have improved the chances of saving the fallopian tube, making future pregnancies possible, but infertility and repeat tubal pregnancies are always a risk.

If you suspect that you have an ectopic/tubal pregnancy, see a doctor immediately! If you have been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, it is normal to have many confused feelings. You may have been hospitalized so fast that you didn't have the chance to really think about what was happening to you. You may feel sadness or even anger at the loss of your baby. You may even feel guilty, and blame yourself for something you think you may have done wrong. You may feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with these feelings. This is normal. As time goes by, and your body begins to heal, your feelings will also begin to improve. If you need help in dealing with your feelings, or would just like to have someone to talk to about your experience, please feel free to contact us - we'd love to help you through this loss!