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Gynecology is often confused with obstetrics. However, these medical fields are different. Gynecology mainly involves looking after various health issues of the female body, while obstetrics primarily deals with pregnancy and related procedures and complications. Thus, obstetrics deals with pregnant mothers’ well-being as well as their delivery outcomes. Obstetricians closely work with neonatologists and pediatricians to deal with newborn babies and their care to reduce the chances of disease and mortality among newborns.
Apart from this, obstetricians deal with diagnosing and treating complicated pregnancies, such as ectopic pregnancies. This kind of pregnancy happens when the fertilized ovum gets implemented in another place in the body away from the womb. In most cases, it gets implanted inside the fallopian tubes.
In a normal pregnancy, the fetus grows inside the womb. It develops inside the uterus after a fertilized egg journeys through the fallopian tube and gets attached to the uterine lining. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg gets attached to a different part of the body, usually inside the fallopian tube. That is why it is also called a tubal pregnancy. It might also happen on the ovary or somewhere in the belly.
This kind of pregnancy is extremely rare, and out of hundred pregnancies, two cases might be ectopic. However, they are very dangerous if not treated on time. An untreated ectopic pregnancy case can cause internal infection and bleeding, leading to death. Fallopian pregnancy gets stretched over time, sometimes causing a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, such cases must be treated immediately.
Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy can be treated in three different ways. They are expectant management, medication, and surgery. Each of these treatment options has its set of benefits and risks that your physician will explain to you. Unfortunately, whatever the treatment, the developing embryo or fetus cannot be saved in ectopic pregnancy cases.
The treatment mainly involves the removal of the fetus before it grows too large. Your physician will recommend the most suitable option, depending on various factors such as the fetus size, symptoms, level of pregnancy hormones in your blood, etc. Let us look at the treatment options one by one:
In this treatment, the patient’s condition is carefully examined to see whether treatment in any form is necessary. If the patient has mild or no symptoms and the pregnancy is extremely small or can be detected, there is a high chance that the pregnancy will get dissolved by itself.
The patient might have to undergo spontaneous blood tests to check the level of HCG in the blood. This is required until the hormone is no longer found in the patient’s body. If the hormone level does not drop, the patient might be required to undergo further treatment.
The patient might also experience vaginal bleeding. In such cases, using sanitary napkins instead of tampons is recommended. Tummy pain is common here. One of the main benefits of this form of monitoring is that the patient will not experience side effects. The disadvantage is that the fallopian tube might rupture in the future, which might require immediate treatment.
If the ectopic pregnancy gets detected earlier and active monitoring is not suitable, the doctor prescribes a medicine named methotrexate. This medicine completely stops the growth of the fetus. This is given as a one-time injection in the buttocks. Blood tests are conducted to check if the treatment is working.
In some cases, patients might require a second dose of the injection if the first one does not work. One should use reliable contraception for at least three months after this treatment. In such situations, alcohol consumption must be strictly avoided. The side effects of this injection might include dizziness, stomach pain, the feeling of being sick, diarrhea, etc.
In some cases, patients require laparoscopy or keyhole surgery. This is performed to remove the fetus before it grows too large. During laparoscopic surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia. Small incisions or cuts are made in the tummy, and with a viewing tube called a laparoscope and other surgical instruments, your doctor performs surgery.
The entire fallopian tube containing the fetus is removed, thus making it healthy and normal. Often doctors suggest removing the entire affected fallopian tube, and this is considered the most effective treatment. It also does not reduce a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant again. In such cases, the doctor will discuss with the patient and proceed. After surgery, most women leave the hospital within a few days. However, full recovery takes almost four to six weeks.
Emergency surgery is required if the fallopian tube has already ruptured. In such cases, the surgeon will conduct laparotomy, which involves making a larger incision on the patient’s tummy.
Ectopic pregnancy is a serious health condition for a pregnant woman. If not treated on time, this can lead to drastic consequences. If you are experiencing mild symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, consult the best obstetricians at Dr Komala’s Womens Clinic today.
Yes, forceps deliveries are relatively safer than C-sections.
The body takes around 12 weeks to recover after a forceps delivery completely.
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