Video

Newsletters

Competitions

Quizzes

Offers

Social Network

Message Boards

Turn up the heat this Christmas
Seriously sexy gifts

Dress to impress
Fab frocks for party season

Season's greetings pop pickers
Try the Number Ones quiz

Pregnancy & Baby

Topics

Hot stuff

Get the Christmas party started

Visit Grotto Fabulous!

Baby development tracker

Pregnancy calendar

Baby name finder

Charlie and Lola game

Celebrity baby game

Find your fertile days

Shop for your baby

Newsletters

Promotions

Party central
From party frocks to invites and Christmas cocktails, we've got everything you need to throw a fabulous party

Baby friendly pools
Find a swimming pool to take baby with the Baby Friendly Swimming Pool directory

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy can be quite serious, even life-threatening, for the mother. But women who experience it can go on to subsequently have a healthy pregnancy and birth, says Dr Howard Lee

The word 'ectopic' means out of place, and so, an ectopic pregnancy is one where the fertilised egg attaches itself somewhere outside the cavity of the uterus (the womb). It can develop in the ovary, the abdominal lining, or even the cervix (neck of the womb), but the most common place - 96% of all ectopics - is somewhere in the fallopian tube.

When you realise that the female egg leaves the ovary and finds its way into the open end of the fallopian tube, in order to start its journey towards the cavity of the uterus, and that fertilisation occurs somewhere along this route, it is surprising that - in the UK - only 1 in 150 pregnancies will result in an ectopic development. Ectopic pregnancies are becoming more common due to the increase in sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea which, if untreated, can block or twist the fallopian tubes.

An ectopic pregnancy cannot survive

An ectopic pregnancy can occur anytime between the 4th and 10th week of pregnancy. In many cases the embryo stops developing and a spontaneous miscarriage occurs before about eight weeks. If this doesn't happen and the pregnancy continues to develop, the ectopic pregnancy causes pain and bleeding. If it is not treated quickly its increasing size can rupture the narrow fallopian tube and cause abdominal bleeding. The consequences, if this happens, are life-threatening.

What are the causes of an ectopic pregnancy?

There are many factors that increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, and they involve infection or injury that has altered the normal and highly complex function of the fallopian tubes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease - untreated infection can contort, scar or block the tubes.
Appenticitis and peritonitis where the appendix bursts can cause adhesions or scarring
Tubal surgery - any previous operation on the fallopian tubes - such as sterilisation and its reversal - makes an ectopic pregnancy more likely.
Previous ectopic pregnancy - it is a sad fact that up to 20 per cent of the pregnancies that follow an ectopic will themselves become ectopic.
Previous termination of pregnancy - increased risk of ectopic pregnancy among women who have had pregnancies terminated, especially if there has been an associated infection.
IVF and fertility drugs - where the ovaries are being stimulated by a fertility drug, or where a test-tube fertilisation technique is being used to help an infertile couple, there is an increased risk that any resulting pregnancy will be ectopic.
Advancing age - ectopic pregnancies are more common in the older woman.
Intra-uterine contraceptive coil - if this method fails to prevent a pregnancy, there is a slightly increased risk of it being ectopic.

Often, none of these increased risk factors can be demonstrated.