Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy is outside the cavity of the womb. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube (i.e. the tube that transports eggs from the ovary to the womb).
Rarely, the fertilised egg may implant elsewhere, e.g. in the ovaries, cervix or abdomen. As the pregnancy grows, it causes pain and bleeding. If not treated quickly enough, it can rupture the tube or structure it is growing in and cause severe bleeding into the abdomen.
Symptons range from none to pain or cramping (either constant or intermittent), irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting. Occasionally a patient with an ectopic pregnancy may experience additional symptons like shoulder pain, dizziness, fainting and collapse.
The early diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is important. Any women experiencing the symptons listed above, particularly after a late or unusual period, should seek medical advice.
An ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed by a combination of blood tests and ultrasound scans and then treated in one of the following ways:
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Expectant management: Some ectopic pregnancies can clear without treatment in a way similar to miscarriage, but you will be closely monitored through blood tests and scans.
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Medical treatment: In some cases an ectopic pregnancy can be treated with an injection of a drug called Methotrexate, which stops the pregnancy developing any further.
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Surgery: Key hole surgery (Laparoscopy) can be used to remove the pregnancy and sometimes the tube if necessary.
Facts and figures
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There are on average 11 ectopic pregnancies per 1,000 pregnancies.
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More than 95% of all ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube.
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There is a 15% chance that you will have a second ectopic pregnancy (which means there is an 85% chance of a successful outcome next time).
