Are you likely to have an ectopic pregnancy?

This scary type of pregnancy can rupture your fallopian tube.

Finding out you are pregnant can result in a surge of emotions from excitement to joy to stress to everything in between. But if your pregnancy turns out to be ectopic, it can be both dangerous and scary. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo implants itself outside the central cavity of the uterus. While ectopic pregnancy can occur in a number of places like the anterior abdominal wall and the cervix, most common ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube. While ectopic pregnancies are very rare, it can happen to any woman. If you are wondering what puts you at the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, we got you the answer from gynaecologist Dr Anindita Dhar.

Who is more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy?

While there is no genetic basis for increased risk of an ectopic pregnancy and it is mostly a random event, a few factors can make you more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. If you have a history of previous pelvic infection or surgery, or you have an IUD or an ectopic pregnancy in the past, you stand the chances of having an ectopic pregnancy. You may also be predisposed if you have endometriosis, gynecologic surgery or a history of Chlamydia or exposure to other STD. Here are 6 symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.

How can you treat an ectopic pregnancy?

You should not take ectopic pregnancy lightly as there are some serious health hazards. Risks involve fallopian tube rupture, haemorrhage and even death. Once an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, you need to get it removed medically or surgically. If the ectopic pregnancy is detected early, it can be treated with a shot of medication known as methotrexate which dissolves the pregnancy. However, if the pregnancy is detected in the later stages, it needs to be removed through a surgical procedure known as laparoscopy. Most of the times, it requires the removal of the fallopian tube. These simple tips will help you deal with 7 common pregnancy problems.

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