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 September 21st, 2009
When the tubes of a woman are either blocked or damaged then the fertilised ova does not go to the uterus but attaches itself to the walls of the fallopian tube and starts developing there. Ectopic pregnancies or tubal pregnancies as they are also called are those where the fertilised egg fails to reach the uterus but attaches itself to a place outside the uterus and starts developing there. Though the fertilised egg in and ectopic pregnancy normally attaches itself to the fallopian tubes only, there have been cases where they have implanted themselves in some organ in the pelvis, or the cervix or one of the ovaries.
Statistics of ectopic pregnancies
Statistics show that in every 200 pregnancies at least one of them will be an ectopic pregnancy. If a woman has an ectopic pregnancy once there are good chances of her having repeated ectopic pregnancies an the chances of her having a normal one are very limited. At least one third of such women will also have a problem conceiving again.
Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies
The early signs of an ectopic pregnancy will be the same as that of a normal one, however, there could be also be other symptoms once the pregnancy develops a little more. Some of these symptoms are pain on one side of the abdomen, throbbing that lasts for a long time in the abdomen, fainting fits, pain in the lower abdomen, and vaginal bleeding. A very pointed sign is pain in the shoulder when lying down.
The doctor will also be able to tell an ectopic pregnancy when he performs a physical examination and finds that the uterus is smaller than it should be and that there is a swelling which will be tender on the side where the ectopic pregnancy is. Sometimes if the pregnancy develops further in the fallopian tube it may rupture and this causes severe anguish to the woman. She feel dizzy with fainting spells, have a weak racing pulse and go into a state of shock.
When is ectopic pregnancy discovered ?
Ectopic pregnancies can be discovered as early as the fourth week, but sometimes may not be visible until the second month of the pregnancy is over. However, it can also go un noticed until an ultra sound scan is performed during the third trimester of the pregnancy.
The risk factors involved
There is a possibility of an early ectopic pregnancy in some women. If the woman has had some kind of a surgery and if there is an inflammation of the falopian tube, then there is a risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. As the lining of the tubes is very delicate there could be a problem with the egg moving into the uterus and instead gets implanted in the wrong place. This could also be possible if the woman is on any kind of contraceptive medication or gets impregnated by in vitro fertilisation.
 September 17th, 2009
Generally, there is no real way to tell a woman that she is pregnant. A visit to a doctor or a pregnancy test can confirm one?s pregnancy. But, pregnancy symptoms are also something which you can look forward to confirm whether you are pregnant or not. A woman?s body is the best indicator to confirm her pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, there are certain hormonal changes that take place in her body. Constipation, cramps, backaches and nausea and so on are all pregnancy symptoms at an earlier stage. You may experience one or few of these pregnancy symptoms, if not all.
Common Pregnancy Symptoms:
A missed period is one of the foremost pregnancy symptoms. Usually in these circumstances you miss your periods or bleeding is less than normal. As mentioned, your body undergoes hormonal changes and the growing uterus that presses against the bowel results in initial pregnancy symptoms like backaches, cramps, constipation and missed period and so on. Your breast tends to become tender and there is darkening of nipples. This is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy and usually occurs as early as one week after conception and continues thereafter.
Exhaustion or tiredness is usually associated with pregnancy health related concerns. Pregnancy requires you to take rest as much as you can. Feeling tired or exhaustive is not a temporary phase. It occurs after one to six weeks of conceiving and can last till the entire pregnancy period. You tend to feel extremely hungry and there is a craving for food. Usually, there is no restriction on the amount of food you can have during these days but it is very important that your diet should be healthy and nutritious. Your doctor can be your best guide regarding the kind of diet you should maintain during pregnancy.
Women become extremely sensitive to smell and this is one of earliest pregnancy symptom. Frequent urination due to growing pressure on the bladder, lower abdominal cramps is all pregnancy symptoms. Headaches, nausea and vomiting usually occur after two to ten weeks of conceiving. Generally termed as ?morning sickness?, nausea can occur at any time of the day and in extreme cases it will be full fledged vomiting. All these pregnancy symptoms are attributed to hormonal changes in the body.
Pregnancy test is the ultimate way to confirm your pregnancy. Your doctor can always confirm the fact after you are done with your tests. Today, pregnancy tests are very reliable and can give you result as early as ten to fourteen days of fertilization. When you are experience any one or few of these pregnancy symptoms, make it sure that you do not neglect your health. Any tobacco products and alcohol should be totally avoided during pregnancy. Since, your behavior can also be irrational sometimes, it is always better that you give outlet to your emotions in a weekly pregnancy calendar that cover your entire pregnancy journey. Your life will never be the same once you make it a point to enjoy the journey of pregnancy.
Apurva Shree is the online editor of free pregnancy information resource www.pregnancyhealth.info She has developed this site to provide valuable information on early pregnancy symptoms and useful methods to enjoy your pregnancy period and the ways in which you welcome your new world of motherhood. Pregnancy Health. Info is your free resource that not only provides information on early pregnancy symptoms but the other aspects of pregnancy too.
 September 16th, 2009
Ectopic pregnancy is a condition in which a fertilized egg settles and grows in any location other than the inner lining of the uterus. About 1% of pregnancies are in an ectopic location with implantation not occurring inside of the womb, and of these 98% occur in the Fallopian tubes. In a typical ectopic pregnancy, the embryo does not reach the uterus, but instead adheres to the lining of the Fallopian tube. The implanted embryo burrows actively into the tubal lining. Most commonly this invades vessels and will cause bleeding. This bleeding expels the implantation out of the tubal end as a tubal abortion. Some women thinking they are having a miscarriage are actually having a tubal abortion. There is no inflammation of the tube in ectopic pregnancy. The pain is caused by prostaglandins released at the implantation site, and by free blood in the peritoneal cavity, which is locally irritant. Sometimes the bleeding might be heavy enough to threaten the health or life of the woman. Usually this degree of bleeding is due to delay in diagnosis, but sometimes, especially if the implantation is in the proximal tube it may invade into Sampson artery , causing heavy bleeding earlier than usual. An ectopic pregnancy can’t proceed normally. The developing embryo can’t survive, and the growing placental tissue may destroy important maternal structures. Without treatment, life-threatening blood loss is possible. About one in every 40 to 100 pregnancies is ectopic. Thanks to earlier diagnosis and treatment, the chance for future healthy pregnancies is better than ever before.
Ectopic means “out of place.” An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy where the fetus is not growing in the usual location (the uterine cavity or the womb). Ectopic pregnancies can occur in a number of unusual locations, each with different characteristic growth patterns. Almost all ectopic pregnancies occur in fallopian tubes (tubes from uterus), so this is also known as “Tubal Pregnancy”. Since the fallopian tubes are not large enough to accommodate a growing embryo, the pregnancy cannot continue normally. If identified early, the embryo is removed. In some cases, the embryo grows until the fallopian tube is stretched so much that the tube ruptures. Rupture of the tube is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention because it can result in severe hemorrhaging. An ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Causes of Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is caused by a disruption in a woman’s reproductive anatomy or the timing of specific reproductive events. Ectopic pregnancy is common in women age 20 to 29, but the cause is not always known. However, previous damage to one of the two fallopian tubes may obstruct the passage of the fertilized egg along the tube to the uterus. The egg then implants in the wall of the tube instead of in the uterus. This prior damage may have been caused by an unsuccessful or a reversed sterilization procedure or a fallopian tube infection. Ectopic pregnancies are more common in women using an intrauterine contraceptive device, partly because these devices increase the risk of a pelvic infection in women who exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.
Symptoms of Ectopic pregnancy
1. Nausea, vomiting.
2. Dizziness.
3. Low blood pressure.
4. Breast tenderness.
5. Frequent urination.
Treatment of Ectopic pregnancy
Medicine, surgery, or a combination of the two are usually used to end an ectopic pregnancy before it endangers the mother. In a few cases, very early ectopic pregnancies can be watched closely to see whether the pregnancy will miscarry on its own. 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.
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