Can You Terminate an Ectopic Pregnancy?

A positive pregnancy test may not always seem welcoming, as sometimes, the conception is not fated for live birth. We are indicating an ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency. It means, people with such a pregnancy need a life-saving termination process to protect the mother’s life and health. In this blog, we will address the question about can you terminate an ectopic pregnancy and treatment options.

What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

For an intrauterine pregnancy, the fertilized egg reaches the uterus through the fallopian tube. Here, it is attached to the endometrium or the uterus wall. After implantation, the embryo receives the right nutrients and environment to develop.

·However, in an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus and not inside it.

· A majority of implantation in such an instance happens in the fallopian tubes – the reason why this event is also known as a tubal pregnancy.

· The fallopian tubes are not flexible. They are also narrow without a conducive state to support pregnancy development.

· If such a pregnancy is not ended on time, the extrauterine space where the embryo attached may burst or rupture, resulting in a life-threatening dangerous internal bleeding.

Where Can an Ectopic Pregnancy Occur?

An ectopic pregnancy mostly is seen in fallopian tubes. However, it can also occur in the cervix, ovary, in the scar tissues of an earlier C-section, or the abdominal cavity. No matter where the pregnancy location is, an embryo cannot thrive if not within the uterus.

Causes and Risk Factors

There is no cause for an ectopic pregnancy. However, most studies indicate the responsible factor as hormonal imbalance that reduces the pace of eggs traveling to the uterus, or fallopian tube damage. Some of the risk factors are:

· Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, or scars in the tubes, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), etc.

· Smokers are more vulnerable to an ectopic pregnancy because the nicotine may affect the tubal motility.

· Lastly, previous surgery to repair or tie the tubes can cause scar tissues, where the fertilized egg may attach to.

Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy

The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are like a normal conception. These experiences are breast tenderness, nausea, missed periods, etc. However, as the pregnancy advances, it can lead to:

· A sharp pelvic pain as if someone is stabbing at one side of the pelvis/lower abdomen.

· There could be shoulder tip pain due to impact on the phrenic nerve from profuse internal bleeding.

· The vaginal bleeding is heavier or lighter than your usual period. The look is also watery or darker.

· From the blood loss, you may encounter fainting spells, shock, dizziness, etc.

Can You Terminate an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Yes, an ectopic pregnancy can be removed from the body. However, the fertilized egg cannot be transported back to the uterus. Since the embryo cannot grow properly outside the uterus, there is a risk of hemorrhage or organ rupture. Thus, a life-saving pregnancy termination is required to do away with the gestational tissues.

Treatment Options for Ectopic Pregnancy

Here is now an ectopic pregnancy is treated:

· Methotrexate: If the fallopian tube is not ruptured yet, the doctor may administer methotrexate injection to stop division of cells. This helps the body to dissolve the pregnancy sections over the next few weeks. It is a non-invasive treatment.

· Laparoscopic Surgery: While invasive, small incisions are made on the abdomen to remove the pregnancy. In Salpingostomy, the tube is not removed but only the pregnancy tissues are, while in salpingectomy, the pregnancy as well as the fallopian tube are removed due to severe organ damage.

· Laparotomy: This is an emergency open surgery to repair the damage as well as to restrict the bleeding.

Risks of Untreated Ectopic Pregnancy

The question about can you terminate an ectopic pregnancy is no less important than how to end such a pregnancy, as due to the complex nature of the conception, a safe alternative is required to not worsen the rupture, damage, or pregnancy development. Due to the excessive bleeding internally, you can go into hypovolemic shock. The event may also cause death.

Recovery After Treatment

Here is more about physical and emotional recovery following the termination of an ectopic pregnancy:

· It may take 2 to 4 weeks to resume normal activities after surgical elimination of an ectopic pregnancy.

· In case of Methotrexate use, regular blood profile monitoring is advised to keep a check on the hCG hormone levels (should reduce to zero).

· Since the pregnancy is not viable, the feeling of loss, grief, anguish, etc. are often experienced by the person. Finding support via counselling to manage the trauma can help.

Can You Prevent an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Why an ectopic pregnancy happens is not a person’s control. But is it possible to maintain precaution and prevent the risk of such a conception by:

· Quitting smoking. Follow a healthy lifestyle to ensure overall wellness to reduce the risk of compromised pregnancies/

· Using protection during sex to prevent PID and STIs that may otherwise raise the risk of tubal scarring.

· When you suspect a pregnancy, seek prenatal care at the earliest so that the doctor can perform an ultrasound to detect the pregnancy location (outside or inside the uterus).

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the common queries related to can you terminate an ectopic pregnancy safely or not:

1. Will an ectopic pregnancy affect my future fertility?

There is a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy to repeat. However, this is just a possibility because many women with extrauterine pregnancies have experienced healthy pregnancies later in their life even if a fallopian tube is removed.

2. Can the pregnancy survive outside the uterus?

An embryo cannot live outside the uterus for long as it does not have a supportive environment to get the required blood supply, nutrition, and space to grow.

3. Is Methotrexate the same as the abortion pill?

An abortion pill process involves Mifepristone and Misoprostol medicines, and is meant to end an early pregnancy situated in the uterus. These pills cannot end an ectopic pregnancy. However, Methotrexate is designed to dissolve the ectopic tissues.

Conclusion

While looking up for – can you terminate an ectopic pregnancy on the internet – you must have come across different answers. However, no amount of research will affirm that you should continue such a pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening and requires immediate intervention so that the pregnancy tissues can be removed from outside the uterus safely, curtailing further damage and even maternal death.