Ectopic pregnancy: when manifested, gestational age, symptoms, causes and consequences

An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal condition of a woman, which can lead to serious consequences. In the normal course of the process, a fertilized egg is in the uterus. If it is fixed in any other body, then this is a deviation. In this case, immediate gynecologist intervention is required. The first signs of an ectopic pregnancy should alert the woman and stimulate him to consult a specialist. Therefore, it is important to know how an ectopic pregnancy manifests itself in the early stages.

What is characteristic of ectopic pregnancy?

So that the baby can be born normally, and the woman is not in danger, fertilization and consolidation of the egg should occur only in the uterus. If a malfunction occurs in the mother's body, an ectopic pregnancy may form. This process is very important to recognize as early as possible. When an ectopic pregnancy is manifested, only the intervention of a qualified specialist will help to avoid infertility, and in the worst case, death.

With an ectopic pregnancy, the egg can be fixed in the following organs of a woman:

1. Abdominal cavity (very rare).
2. The fallopian tube (usually accompanied by its rupture).
3. Ovaries (can cause infertility).

In these cases, it is impossible to bear and give birth to a healthy baby. To maintain the health and life of a woman, immediate termination of pregnancy is required. So that a specialist can quickly take measures, it is necessary to identify the symptoms of pathology in a timely manner. Read about the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, see below.

Why does this happen?

There may be several reasons for an ectopic pregnancy:

1. STDs. Diseases acquired through unprotected sexual intercourse. They are asymptomatic, but can cause serious harm to the female body. Therefore, doctors recommend systematically visiting a gynecologist.
2. Inflammatory process. During this process, adhesions occur, accompanied by a narrowing of the fallopian tubes. As a result, the transport function slows down and the egg cannot enter the uterus. Therefore, it is fixed in some other place, this leads to the development of pathology and unpredictable consequences for women.
3. Past surgery in the genitourinary system. As a result of surgical intervention, a violation of the natural functioning of the fallopian tubes may occur.
4. Birth defects. Improper development of the fallopian tubes can lead to permanent ectopic conceptions. Thus, with violations in the form of a pipe, it will be extremely difficult to get pregnant.
5. Disturbed hormonal background. Problems with the endocrine system are accompanied by hormonal failure and a deterioration in the functioning of the fallopian tubes. This most often occurs as a result of the use of spirals and contraceptives created on the basis of combined hormones.
6. Neoplasms and tumors on the fallopian tubes or adjacent tissues. These diagnoses are accompanied by impaired egg transport, which leads to improper fixing.

How is an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages

The complexity of the diagnosis lies in the fact that the symptoms of an ectopic practically do not differ from a normal pregnancy. In the first week, it is very difficult to determine the location of the egg.

So, we turn to the question of how the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy manifest. In case of incorrect attachment of the fetus, the following symptoms are possible:

1. Delay of menstruation. Menstruation may be absent completely or accompanied by scanty discharge in the form of mild bleeding. Blood has a dark color, the process lasts no more than two days.
2. Breast swelling. The mammary glands increase in size and become sensitive. In addition, a woman exacerbates taste and smelling receptors.
3. When an ectopic pregnancy occurs, premature toxicosis may occur.
4. Pain in the lower abdomen with a transition to the lumbar region. The pain can be very severe and may be accompanied by insomnia.
5. Spotting with characteristic unpleasant odor and dark color.
6. When signs of an ectopic pregnancy are manifested, a woman begins to suffer from dizziness, ongoing headaches and fainting.
7. Growing pain in the area of ​​egg placement. When the fetus is fixed in the fallopian tubes, painful sensations will occur in the side.

Not sure how long the signs of an ectopic pregnancy appear? For a long time, the girl may not even be aware of an ectopic pregnancy, since a severe deterioration does not occur. Few people are encouraged to visit a specialist by low blood pressure and sudden changes in mood. For this reason, the diagnosis of abnormal pregnancy is extremely rare.

The timing of the establishment of improper attachment of the fetus

So, how long do symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy appear? The presence of pregnancy in a woman is established by conducting an ultrasound examination. But this procedure does not allow to identify pathology in the first month. Many girls are worried about the question: how much ectopic pregnancy is manifested? The first visible symptoms become noticeable only a month and a half after conception. In addition, negative pregnancy test results are not ruled out. Ectopic pregnancy can only be determined by the sensations and symptoms listed above.

The absence of stripes on the test is explained by the fact that when an ectopic pregnancy is manifested, a very small amount of chorionic gonadotropin is produced in the body. This is a substance that, during the normal course of pregnancy, begins to actively synthesize. Tests respond specifically to him. When an ectopic pregnancy occurs, the body cannot fully understand what is happening, so the substance is produced in very small quantities. Sometimes the test may show a second strip, but it will be mild.

When should I go to the doctor?

Not sure how an ectopic pregnancy lasts less than a month? There is a list of ailments in which you can not postpone a visit to a specialist:

1. Deterioration of well-being for no reason, accompanied by pain in the abdomen with a transition to the lower back. In this case, the pain can be felt not only in the abdomen, but also in the anus. Such symptoms are not normal, therefore it is not recommended to self-medicate. Only a doctor is able to understand where the pain comes from in order to establish the correct diagnosis.
2. Elevated body temperature, not accompanied by infectious viral diseases. A woman may have body aches, chills, but without other signs of a cold. When confirming a pathological pregnancy and these symptoms, you should urgently call a specialist, this is very dangerous!
3. Not sure how an ectopic pregnancy appears? Reviews of women indicate dizziness and severe pain. In addition, they note loss of appetite and impaired coordination of movements. If this condition persists, you should consult a doctor for several hours.
4. Lowering blood pressure. This condition is difficult to attribute to a possible ectopic pregnancy. Nevertheless, the drop in blood pressure directly relates to the abnormal development of the egg.
5. Periodic syncope. Even in the case of positive dynamics of the process, a woman can lose consciousness, let alone the situation when an ectopic pregnancy is manifested.
6. Bleeding. In the case of abnormal development of pregnancy, in particular improper attachment of the fetus, bleeding from the vagina with a large loss of blood can be observed. If a woman does not come to the aid on time, then everything can end in death.

Why is it impossible to bear a baby?

Attaching the fetus in the wrong place is possible by itself, but problems arise during the growth of the egg. The organs of the genitourinary system are not intended for carrying a child. In the female body, there is only one organ that can stretch without harm - this is the uterus.

When consolidation occurs, for example, in the fallopian tube, then the growing egg begins to fill its entire space. As a result, the epithelial tissue ruptures, bleeding begins, filling the entire internal cavity and exiting through the vagina.

Bleeding is not the most dangerous consequence of an ectopic pregnancy. This process may be accompanied by peritonitis. The consequences of peritonitis can be eliminated only in the intensive care unit. And this is a threat to life.

What to do with an ectopic pregnancy

Unfortunately, in this situation, every woman must be notified that it is impossible to save the life of a child. In this situation, the question of saving the life of the girl herself and her reproductive function comes to the fore. To avoid the consequences, you need to act quickly. The sooner the diagnosis is established, the less painful the operation will be. Accordingly, the risk will be minimal. Every woman should know how an ectopic pregnancy appears in the early stages. This will help her solve the problem without consequences.

The most progressive treatment is considered laparoscopy. This procedure involves making a small incision in the area of ​​the fetus and sucking it from there. The advantages of the process are minimal consequences. In this case, tissues are not damaged, adhesions and scars remain, and most importantly, there is no risk of subsequent infertility.

So, what week does an ectopic pregnancy manifest? Ectopic pregnancy can be determined at about the third week, when the level of hCG in the body increases. But the ultrasound machine will not confirm the presence of the fetus. Therefore, in case of changes in the body that are similar to the listed signs of pregnancy, you should immediately consult a specialist.

Treatment of pathological pregnancy

When establishing such a diagnosis, treatment should be started immediately. The most commonly used laparoscopy, which was described above. This is an operation carried out using a telescopic pipe with a camera connected to it.

In some cases, medication and chemotherapy are used as treatment. These are very serious procedures, which can be accompanied by severe consequences, up to the removal of the organs of the reproductive system and subsequent infertility.

Possible consequences

The procedure for eliminating an ectopic pregnancy can lead a woman to the following consequences:

1. Rupture of the fallopian tube. The consequence of this is bleeding, shock, painful spasm of all organs that affect the process, and peritoneal tissues. To avoid this, you must immediately call an ambulance immediately after the appearance of blood secretions.
2. Infertility. The most serious consequence of a pathological pregnancy that cannot be fixed. The likelihood of infertility during treatment is quite high, since during the process of surgical intervention one or more organs of the reproductive system are removed. Most often this is one or two fallopian tubes.
3. Repeated ectopic pregnancy. Such an outcome of events happens in 20 percent of cases. It is possible to reduce the risk of a repeated process with treatment with Methotrexate. In addition, the probability is minimized if during the first operation it was possible to keep the fallopian tubes intact.

Postoperative treatment

Treatment after elimination of an ectopic pregnancy consists of a number of different procedures. These include drug therapy, and physiotherapy sessions, and psychological, and if necessary, psychotherapeutic assistance. The purpose of the integrated approach is to completely restore the female body and get rid of the possible dangerous consequences of a pathological pregnancy.

Important! Postoperative treatment is used as a preventive measure against the recurrence of events.

Drug therapy necessarily includes drugs that have an anti-adhesion effect.

Is it possible to avoid an ectopic pregnancy?

In this regard, no one can give guarantees, but it is in the power of every woman to do everything in her power to avoid this. You can prevent the occurrence of pathology in the following ways:

1. Prevent the development of inflammation of the genitourinary organs. If it occurs, remove it in a timely manner.
2. Before planning the birth of a baby, you should undergo a full examination and take tests for the presence of pathogenic microbes (mycoplasmas, chlamydia, ureaplasma, etc.). If they are detected, undergo the necessary therapeutic treatment. It is very important that the sexual partner does the same.
3. The main factor provoking an ectopic pregnancy is a previously completed abortion. Such measures must be avoided and safeguarded in reliable ways.
4. If necessary, termination of pregnancy should be done at a very early date (up to eight weeks) and choose less traumatic methods, such as mini-abortion. The procedure can only be carried out in a specialized institution with a highly qualified specialist with an anesthetic and subsequent monitoring. Vacuum abortion has virtually no contraindications, it is performed quite quickly and reduces the likelihood of adverse effects. As an alternative, an unwanted pregnancy can be terminated with the medication method, using special drugs.

A pathological pregnancy is not a sentence, especially if you have information on how long the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy appear and how to behave further. After eliminating the pathology, a woman can plan the next healthy pregnancy. The main thing in this case is to be patient. Doctors recommend that after surgery, start planning for the birth of a child no earlier than a year later. This time is necessary for the female body to restore and normalize all its functions.