Scribd
Upload
172 views2 pages

Introduction

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, usually in the Fallopian tubes. The most common cause is damage to the Fallopian tubes from infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Without normal tube function, the embryo cannot travel to the uterus. The Fallopian tubes are the most common site of ectopic implantation, but other rare sites like the abdomen, ovary or cervix carry higher risks due to delayed detection and potential for life-threatening bleeding if rupture occurs. Hormonal factors may also play a role in some cases by slowing the embryo's travel through the tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are more likely with increasing age and in women with a

Uploaded by

Necesario Banaag
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
172 views2 pages

Introduction

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, usually in the Fallopian tubes. The most common cause is damage to the Fallopian tubes from infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Without normal tube function, the embryo cannot travel to the uterus. The Fallopian tubes are the most common site of ectopic implantation, but other rare sites like the abdomen, ovary or cervix carry higher risks due to delayed detection and potential for life-threatening bleeding if rupture occurs. Hormonal factors may also play a role in some cases by slowing the embryo's travel through the tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are more likely with increasing age and in women with a

Uploaded by

Necesario Banaag
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

INTRODUCTION

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy implanted in an abnormal location (outside of the


uterus). During the past 40 years its incidence has been steadily increasing concomitant with
increased STD rates and associated salpingitis (inflammation of the Fallopian tubes). Such
abnormalities of the tubes prevent normal transport of the fertilized egg to the uterus.
(OBGYN.net Staff, 2011)
The most common site of ectopic implantation is the Fallopian tube. Other sites such as
the abdomen, ovary, or cervix are far less common but are associated with higher mortality. This
higher mortality is due to greater detection difficulty and to massive bleeding that can result if
rupture occurs at these sites. (OBGYN.net Staff, 2011)
In most of the remaining first time ectopic pregnancies (accounting for about 40%), the
cause is undetermined. One theory is that in some women the fertilized egg travels in the
Fallopian tube slower, so that at time of implantation (7 days after fertilization) the embryo is
still in the Fallopian tube. Instead of implanting in the uterus as is normal, it implants in the
Fallopian tube. A possible cause for this slowing down of travel is a hormonal imbalance.
Increased amount of estrogen or progesterone can change the contractions of the tube
(contractions are required to help move or propel the embryo along the tube). Increased levels of
progesterone can be found with the use of a progesterone-releasing IUD (intrauterine device, for
contraception) or the use of progestin-only oral contraceptives (one type of "the pill"). Increased
levels of both estrogen and progesterone can occur after hormonal treatment for the purpose of
in-vitro fertilization ("test tube baby"). (OBGYN.net Staff, 2011)

Statistics

Ectopic pregnancy occurs at a rate of about 1-2% of pregnancies and can occur in any
sexually active woman of reproductive age. The increase in incidence in the past few decades is
thought to be due to two factors: Increased incidence of salpingitis (infection of the Fallopian
tube, usually due to a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea), and
improved ability to detect ectopic pregnancies. There is a marked increase in ectopic pregnancy
rate with increasing age from 6.6 per 1000 pregnancies in women aged 15 to 24, to 21.5 per 1000
pregnancies in women aged 35 to 44.
Most ectopic pregnancies occur in women who have had more than one pregnancy. Only
10% to 15% of ectopic pregnancies occur in women who have never been pregnant before.
In the United States, the rates are higher for non-white (about 30 in 1000, or 3 in 100,
pregnancies) than for white women (OBGYN.net Staff, 2011) .

You might also like