ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
07.09.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


Ectopic Pregnancy - Signs and Symptoms

Author: Paul Banas Author Ranking Gold | Posted: 07-04-2008 | Views: 137 | Rating:  (169) Article Popularity - Blue (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Sign Up Now!

During pregnancy, typically the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tube to reach the mother's womb. However, in some cases the egg fails to reach the womb but gets lodged in the fallopian tube, where it continues to grow. This is known as 'ectopic' or 'tubal' pregnancy. More rarely, the fertilized egg lodges in the cervix, abdomen, or c-section scar, and is known as heterotopic pregnancy.

If an ectopic pregnancy is left untreated, the embryo will continue to grow till it ruptures the fallopian tube. This could result in complications, and may even be fatal for the expecting mother. Since there is no way to move the egg into the womb, ectopic pregnancies are terminated.

Risks

Your spouse is at greater risk of ectopic pregnancy in the following situations:

* Her pregnancy occurs even though she had a tubal ligation (surgical sterilization)
* She had an intrauterine device (IUD) when she became pregnant
* She has undergone surgery of the fallopian tubes
* She previously had an ecoptic pregnancy
* She has an infection in the upper reproductive tract (pelvic inflammatory disease or PID)
* She has been treated for infertility because of damaged tubes

Symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy is usually diagnosed around six weeks of pregnancy. Your spouse should consult her obstetrician if she has any of the following symptoms:

* Pain or tenderness in the abdomen or pelvis, especially while coughing or moving bowels, and which may become more severe or chronic with time
* Vaginal bleeding
* Shoulder pain, especially while lying down
* Symptoms of shock, such as a weak, racing pulse, pale and clammy skin, or dizziness, which may indicate a ruptured tube that requires urgent attention

Diagnosis

Ectopic pregnancies are often difficult to diagnose. However, based on the symptoms, the obstetrician may prescribe any of the following tests:

* Blood test
* Vaginal examination
* Ultrasound

If the tests are still inconclusive, the obstetrician may suggest examination of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopic surgery.

Treatment

If the embryo is still small, the ectopic pregnancy may be terminated by injecting the drug methotrexate. However, in more advanced cases, or where the medication is not advisable, a surgery may be required.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/ectopic-pregnancy-signs-and-symptoms-380238.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:

Paul Banas was looking for a business idea that would allow him the flexibility to spend time with his family. Paul Banas is a founder of http://www.greatdad.com - a leading source of experience, recommendations, inspiration and advice for dads - delivered from the male perspective.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Pregnancy Articles

Baby Shower Cards for Baby Shower Party
By: Sarah Porter | 01/09/2008
You should not include gift registry information on the personalized baby shower cards. Doing so makes it seem as if you only want people to come to the party because you want their gifts.

Conceiving a Baby: Things Future Dads Should Avoid
By: Paul Banas | 01/09/2008
Men don't usually scour pre-pregnancy books, stocking up on all the right vitamins and minerals, and planning against the hidden dangers that could harm their baby-to-be. Future dads, who are trying to conceive, would do well to avoid the following things.

How to Induce Labor Naturally Before Your Doctor Does
By: Lena Leino | 01/09/2008
If your due date is around the corner, you are probably looking for some way to induce labor and get the show on the road! You might be bloated, having trouble getting in a full breath, having difficulty sleeping and leaving every 5 minutes to head to the bathroom! It’s no picnic. It makes sense that you want to alleviate all of these discomforts by inducing labor and encouraging that baby to come out.

Do You Want to Induce Labor?
By: Lena Leino | 01/09/2008
If you are reading this article, chances are you are pregnant and you may be tired of being so. You can’t sleep, you’ve got terrible heartburn, your back hurts and you’re constantly heading to the bathroom to relieve your pea-sized bladder. You’re looking for natural ways to induce labor and end the agony! Babies really know when they are ready to come out. It doesn’t hurt, though, to get your body primed in the best possible manner to help commence junior’s arrival. Be sure that you do not

Inducing Labor Without Drugs
By: Lena Leino | 01/09/2008
You are a conscientious mom-to-be. You have read all the requisite books and eaten healthy foods and taken all the recommended precautions. You have taken the pains to find just the right doctor. During one of your visits, your doctor has told you that if you go too far beyond your due date that he recommends inducing labor through medical means.

Trying to Conceive a Boy - Au Natural
By: julie gardner | 31/08/2008
You would be forgiven for thinking that choosing the gender of your next baby, and trying to conceive a boy would have to be done by medical means. It was only a couple of years ago that I discovered there is in fact alternative methods of choosing the sex of your baby.

Avoid a Cesarean – How to Induce Labor Naturally
By: Lena Leino | 30/08/2008
According to statistics provided by childbirth.org, cesarean rates in the United States have nearly quintupled from where they were 20 years ago. The increase of cesarean rates can be attributed to the increase in chemically stimulated inductions. Women are simply not allowed to induce labor in a natural way. They are frequently given the message that it’s quite easy to “schedule” a birth. This is not what nature intended, nor is it feasible in the long term.

How to Induce Labor Safely and Effectively
By: Lena Leino | 30/08/2008
It’s now the end of 40 weeks. You are prepared for your baby to come any day now. Only…he’s not coming. You can’t sleep because junior’s keeping you up at night. You look at your belly wondering if you’ll ever see your feet again. You wonder if it’s possible for your body to stretch any more than it has already. You are past ready to induce labor

More from Paul Banas

Will Crooked Teeth in Your Baby be a Permanent Problem?
By: Paul Banas | 05/09/2008 | Babies
Adequate baby teeth care and maintenance is necessary to pave the way for permanent teeth. Teeth also affect speech, eating habits, and appearance. Here are some important facts related to crooked baby teeth that you should keep in mind.

Conceiving a Baby: Things Future Dads Should Avoid
By: Paul Banas | 01/09/2008 | Pregnancy
Men don't usually scour pre-pregnancy books, stocking up on all the right vitamins and minerals, and planning against the hidden dangers that could harm their baby-to-be. Future dads, who are trying to conceive, would do well to avoid the following things.

Feeding Your Two Month Old Baby
By: Paul Banas | 28/08/2008 | Babies
Breastfeeding is healthy for mom and baby. Tips and advantages of feeding your 2 months old baby.

Understand Your Toddler's Growth
By: Paul Banas | 27/08/2008 | Parenting
Toddler-hood is an important phase in the development of your baby. It is at this time that most children will perfect their walking and start speaking and responding in an interactive manner.

Do's and Don'ts for Discipline Your Toddler
By: Paul Banas | 19/08/2008 | Parenting
Here are some tips to help you discipline your toddler in a positive way without being harsh or cruel.

Maintaining Relationships With Teenagers After Divorce
By: Paul Banas | 18/08/2008 | Parenting
No matter how much visitation time a non-custodial dad may be awarded, it will not seem enough. You are their dad and will always remain so. Fulfill that role by spending time doing things that dads generally do.

Breastfeeding Guide for New Dads
By: Paul Banas | 12/08/2008 | Babies
Most dads agree that breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby. And even if it is your partner who will do the actual feeding, there are a number of ways in which you can participate to make it a pleasant experience for all.

Teach Your Kids About Election Day
By: Paul Banas | 11/08/2008 | Parenting
As this interminable 2008 election whimpers on into the fall, our family has at least used it to teach a few civics lessons to our two young children.

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below