How can ectopic pregnancy be treated

Salpingostomy and salpingectomy are two laparoscopic surgeries used to treat some ectopic pregnancies. In these procedure, a small incision is made in the abdomen, near or in the navel. Next, your doctor uses a thin tube equipped with a camera lens and light laparoscope to view the tubal area. In a salpingostomy, the ectopic pregnancy is removed and the tube left to heal on its own. In a salpingectomy, the ectopic pregnancy and the tube are both removed. Which procedure you have depends on the amount of bleeding and damage and whether the tube has ruptured.

Also a factor is whether your other fallopian tube is normal or shows signs of prior damage. If the ectopic pregnancy is causing heavy bleeding, you might need emergency surgery.

This can be done laparoscopically or through an abdominal incision laparotomy. In some cases, the fallopian tube can be saved. Typically, however, a ruptured tube must be removed. Losing a pregnancy is devastating, even if you've only known about it for a short time.

Recognize the loss, and give yourself time to grieve. Talk about your feelings and allow yourself to experience them fully. Rely on your partner, loved ones and friends for support. You might also seek the help of a support group, grief counselor or other mental health provider.

Many women who have an ectopic pregnancy go on to have a future, healthy pregnancy. The female body normally has two fallopian tubes.

If one is damaged or removed, an egg may join with a sperm in the other tube and then travel to the uterus. If both fallopian tubes have been injured or removed, in vitro fertilization IVF might still be an option. With this procedure, mature eggs are fertilized in a lab and then implanted into the uterus.

If you've had an ectopic pregnancy, your risk of having another one is increased. If you wish to try to get pregnant again, it's very important to see your doctor regularly. Early blood tests are recommended for all women who've had an ectopic pregnancy. Blood tests and ultrasound testing can alert your doctor if another ectopic pregnancy is developing. Call your doctor's office if you have light vaginal bleeding or slight abdominal pain.

The doctor might recommend an office visit or immediate medical care. However, emergency medical help is needed if you develop these warning signs or symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy:. Your doctor may decide that immediate complications are unlikely. In this case, your doctor can prescribe several medications that could keep the ectopic mass from bursting.

Methotrexate is a drug that stops the growth of rapidly dividing cells, such as the cells of the ectopic mass. If you take this medication, your doctor will give it to you as an injection. You should also get regular blood tests to ensure that the drug is effective. When effective, the medication will cause symptoms that are similar to that of a miscarriage. These include:. Further surgery is rarely required after this occurs. Many surgeons suggest removing the embryo and repairing any internal damage.

This procedure is called a laparotomy. Your doctor will insert a small camera through a small incision to make sure they can see their work. The surgeon then removes the embryo and repairs any damage to the fallopian tube. If the surgery is unsuccessful, the surgeon may repeat a laparotomy, this time through a larger incision. Your doctor will give you specific instructions regarding the care of your incisions after surgery.

The chief goals are to keep your incisions clean and dry while they heal. Check them daily for infection signs, which could include:. You can expect some light vaginal bleeding and small blood clots after surgery. This can occur up to six weeks after your procedure.

Other self-care measures you can take include:. Always notify your doctor if your pain increases or you feel something is out of the ordinary. You may be able to reduce your risk through good reproductive health maintenance. Have your partner wear a condom during sex and limit your number of sexual partners. Maintain regular visits with your doctor, including regular gynecological exams and regular STD screenings.

Taking steps to improve your personal health, such as quitting smoking, is also a good preventive strategy. The long-term outlook after an ectopic pregnancy depends on whether it caused any physical damage. Most people who have ectopic pregnancies go on to have healthy pregnancies. If both fallopian tubes are still intact, or even just one, the egg can be fertilized as normal. However, if you have a preexisting reproductive problem, that can affect your future fertility and increase your risk of future ectopic pregnancy.

Foods that produce gas, which can cause discomfort and mask the pain of a possible rupture of a fallopian tube. If the ectopic pregnancy has ruptured a tube, emergency surgery is needed. Sometimes surgery is needed even if the fallopian tube has not ruptured.

In these cases, the ectopic pregnancy can be removed from the tube, or the entire tube with the pregnancy can be removed. Surgery typically is done with laparoscopy. This procedure uses a slender, lighted camera that is inserted through small cuts in the abdomen. It is done in a hospital with general anesthesia.

Your ob-gyn or other health care professional will talk with you about the possible side effects and risks of surgery for ectopic pregnancy. These may include pain, fatigue, bleeding, and infection. Whether you were treated with methotrexate or surgery, you may feel tired for several weeks while you recover. You may feel abdominal discomfort or pain.

If you have pain that does not respond to over-the-counter medication, talk with your ob-gyn or other health care professional. It can take time for the level of hCG in your body to drop after treatment for an ectopic pregnancy. You may continue to feel pregnant for a while. It may take a few cycles for your periods to return to normal.

For some women, ectopic pregnancy can be traumatic. You may be dealing with many emotions after an ectopic pregnancy, even if you were not planning to become pregnant.

Take time to work through your feelings. Counseling may be helpful. Ask your ob-gyn or other health care professional to recommend a counselor.

Online forums also can be a place to get support from other women who have had ectopic pregnancies. Once you have had an ectopic pregnancy, you are at higher risk of having another one. During future pregnancies, be alert for signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy until your ob-gyn or other health care professional confirms the next pregnancy is growing in the right place. Assisted Reproductive Technology: A group of infertility treatments in which an egg is fertilized with a sperm outside the body; the fertilized egg then is transferred to the uterus.

Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures. Fallopian Tube: Tube through which an egg travels from the ovary to the uterus. General Anesthesia: The use of drugs that produce a sleep-like state to prevent pain during surgery. Hormone: A substance made in the body by cells or organs that controls the function of cells or organs. Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure in which an instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into the pelvic cavity through a small incision.

The laparoscope is used to view the pelvic organs. Other instruments can be used with it to perform surgery. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: An infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and nearby pelvic structures.

Ultrasound Exam: A test in which sound waves are used to examine internal structures. During pregnancy, it can be used to examine the fetus.