Ectopic Pregnancy Treatment
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- Overview
- What It Is
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Living With
- Complications
- User Questions
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- Care Guide
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- When to Contact a Doctor
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How to Treat Ectopic Pregnancy
Treatment includes:
Medication
If diagnosed while the ectopic pregnancy is still small and has not ruptured, methotrexate (a form of chemotherapy) can be given to some patients to prevent further growth of the ectopic pregnancy and avoid surgery.
Surgery
Emergency surgery is needed if:
- The ectopic pregnancy is judged to be too large for medical treatment or if the patient has other conditions, which would prevent the use of methotrexate, such as a history of kidney or liver disease.
- The fallopian tube has burst or ruptured, usually with bleeding into the abdominal cavity.
This surgery can be done through a laparoscope or an open abdominal incision. During the surgery, the pregnancy will be removed. If possible, the doctor will repair your fallopian tube. In some severe cases, the fallopian tube may need to be completely removed.
If you are diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, follow your doctor's instructions.
Prognosis
About 50-85% of the women who have experienced one ectopic pregnancy are later able to achieve a normal pregnancy. A subsequent ectopic pregnancy may occur in 10-20% of cases.
Infertility In Women occurs in a high percentage of women who have experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Often these women can be helped by an infertility specialist.
The maternal death rate from an ectopic pregnancy in the US has decreased in the last 30 years to less than 0.1%.
