• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Ectopic pregnancy

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Tubal pregnancy; Cervical pregnancy; Abdominal pregnancy

Treatment:

Ectopic pregnancies cannot continue to term (birth), so the developing cells must be removed to save the mother's life.

Emergency medical help is needed if the area of the ectopic pregnancy ruptured. (Shock is an emergency condition.) Treatment for shock may include keeping the woman warm, raising her legs, and giving oxygen. Fluids by IV and a blood transfusion may be needed.

Surgery (laparotomy) is done to stop blood loss (in the event of a rupture). This surgery is also done to confirm the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, remove the abnormal pregnancy, and repair any tissue damage. In some cases, removal of the fallopian tube may be necessary.

A mini-laparotomy and laparoscopy are the most common surgical treatments for an ectopic pregnancy that has not ruptured. In cases where the doctor does not think a rupture will occur, the woman may be given a medicine called methotrexate is given and monitored. Blood tests and liver function tests may be done.

Expectations (prognosis):

About 85% of the women who have had one ectopic pregnancy are later able to have a normal pregnancy. A repeated ectopic pregnancy may occur in 10 - 20% of cases. Some women do not become pregnant again, while others become pregnant and spontaneously abort (lose the baby) during the first 3 months.

The rate of a woman in the United States who die due to an ectopic pregnancy has dropped in the last 30 years to less than 0.1%.

Complications:

The most common complication is rupture with internal bleeding that leads to shock. Death from rupture is rare. Infertility occurs in 10 - 15% of women who have had an ectopic pregnancy.

Calling your health care provider:

A woman who has symptoms of ectopic pregnancy (especially lower abdominal pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding) should call her health care provider. Ectopic pregnancy can occur in any woman who is fertile and sexually active, regardless of contraceptive use.

References:

Jian Z, Linan C. Ectopic gestation following emergency contraception with levonorgestrel. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care . 2003 Dec;8(4):225-8.

Sheffer-Mimouni G, Pauzner D, Maslovitch S, Lessing JB, Gamzu R. Contraception . 2003 Apr;67(4):267-9.

Nielsen CL, Miller L. Ectopic gestation following emergency contraceptive pill administration. Contraception . 2000 Nov;62(5):275-6.

Furlong LA. Ectopic pregnancy risk when contraception fails. A review. J Reprod Med . 2002 Nov;47(11):881-5. Review.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.