Ectopic Pregnancy Treatment

Ectopic pregnancies, while not necessarily common, occur enough that any pregnant woman is probably anxious about the possibility of having one. However, if you do have one know that there are treatments that can be life saving to you and allow you to go one to carry other pregnancies.

Types Of Ectopic Pregnancies

There are two main types of ectopic pregnancies: ruptured ectopic pregnancy and non ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is the most dangerous type to have. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy will require immediate attention. If you have a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, measures will have to be done to save your life. A non ruptured ectopic pregnancy, however, allows the doctors to have several different treatment options.

Treating A Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy surgery is really the only option for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Surgery will be needed to remove the fallopian tube and early pregnancy and also to stop the internal bleeding. Without it, death is very likely.

Treating A Non Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy

Most ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed before they get to the point of rupture. When this happens, there are several different ways that the ectopic pregnancy can be treated. First, surgery is an option. This involves removing the tube (part or all of it), and the actual ectopic pregnancy. Most of the time this surgery is done through laparoscopic surgery, which is also known as keyhole surgery. If the other tube is healthy, a doctor will most likely remove the entire damaged tube. If the other tube is also damaged, the doctor will try to keep your fertility by removing as little as possible of the tube.

However, many women who have ectopic pregnancies that do not rupture do not need to have surgery. A medicine that is called methotrexate is often times given to the pregnant woman as an injection. This drug stops the pregnancy from dividing cells and in all affects stops the pregnancy from continuing. Once this happens, the pregnancy will proceed to a miscarriage and the body will cleanse itself. This, however, is only advised if the pregnancy is very early on. You do not need to undergo surgery if you have this, but you will, however, have to have repeated blood tests and ultrasounds to check that the procedure has worked. This drug can also cause side effects like nausea and vomiting. Most women experience abdominal pain for several days after the procedure.

If you feel like you might have an ectopic pregnancy, talk to your doctor about your options for treatment.