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Ectopic pregnancies are a dangerous and sometimes fatal complication of pregnancy that all women should be aware of. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which implantation, instead of occuring in the uterus proper like normal, occurs in the fallopian tubes, cornual area (where the fallopian tubes attach to the uterus), cervix, or ovaries. The baby then begins to grow, but because of the incorrect location, the fetus doesn't have room to grow and begins to stretch the uterus. Eventually, this pregnancy will end as all ectopic pregnancies do. Either this women will have the necessary termination that will save her life, or her uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovary will rupture, causing severe bleeding and abdominal pain and collapse. Many women who experience uterine rupture to to an ectopic pregnancy will lose part or all of their reproductive systems.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include cramps, tenderness in the lower abdomen, bleeding or brown spotting, shoulder pain, weakness, dizziness or fainting, or nausea. If you suspect you may be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, it is extremely important that you contact your doctor or local hospital immediatly. An ultrasound of your uterus and ovaries will be necessary to diagnose or rule out an ectopic pregnancy. Only with quick diagnosis before rupture can a women with an ectopic pregnancy obtain her greatest chances of survival and speedy recovery.

If an ectopic pregnancy is found, there are several methods of treatment. Remember, all ectopic pregnancies will be lost. Unfortunately, there is already no hope for the fetus in an ectopic pregnancy. The following procedures must be performed in order to save the woman. Keyhole surgery can allow a surgeon to cut the tube and remove the pregnancy, then repairing the tube and leaving it intact and functional. Alternatively, or if the pregnancy is not in the fallopian tubes, the drug methotrexate can either be injected directly into the area containing the pregnancy, under ultrasonic or laparoscopic guidance, or into a muscle to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This drug will destroy the pregnancy, leaving the reproductive system intact.

Any woman of child-bearing age is at risk for an ectopic pregnancy. There are several factors that may increase your risk though. Women who have had gonorrhea, chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease, Endometriosis, an IUD, the progesterone–only contraceptive pill (mini–pill), tubal surgery, or previous abortions are more at risk for an ectopic pregnancy. Also, women who were exposed to a synthetic form of estrogen called diethylstilbestrol while in their mothers' wombs are also at a higher risk of ectopic pregnancies. Women who know they fit into one of these categories should be aware of their risk.

Repeat ectopic pregnancies occur at a rate of about 7-10%, depending on the method used to treat the first pregnancy, and the amount of damage sustained by the ovaries or tubes.

Women recovering from an ectopic pregnancy can experience a wide range of emotions. Having just potentially experienced major surgery, lost a baby, and been deprived of part of their fertility, women may feel cheated and sad, angry, ashamed, or even relieved that the pain is gone. Some women want to become pregnant again right away, while others can't bear the thought of trying again. Whatever the case, ectopic pregnancies should not be blamed on the women who carried them, and medical help should be treated if the sadness, depression, or anger is long-lived.

Resources

General Pregnancy

Pregnancy at About.com (http://pregnancy.about.com/)
Pregnancy and Parenting at iVillage (http://parenting.ivillage.com/)
Pregnancy Symptoms (http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/symptoms.html)
Top Ten Signs You Might be Pregnant (http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-symptoms)
Pregnancy Symptoms from MedicineNet (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=79528)
Pregnancy at BabyZone (http://www.babyzone.com/loadpage/topic.asp?topicid=125628)

Childbirth

ChildBirth.org (http://www.childbirth.org/)
Childbirth on WikiPedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth)
Childbirth Photos and Videos (http://technorati.com/tag/childbirth)
National Institute of Health (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childbirth.html)
Unassisted Childbirth (http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/)
Pain Medications During Labor (http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/laboranddelivery/ld_meds.html)
Labor Pain Meds at Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/labor-and-delivery/PR00105)

Complications

Pregnancy complications at BabyCenter.com (http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/pregcomplications/index)
Bacterial Vaginosis (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/bacterialvaginoses.htm)
Incompetent Cervix (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/incompetentcervix.html)
Chronic Hypertension (http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/1427404.html)
Ectopic or Tubal Pregnancy (http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/ectopic.html)
Gestational Diabetes (http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp)
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/313.html)
Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy (http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/3073.html)
Placenta Previa (http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/placentaprevia/a/previa.htm)
Placental Abruption (http://folsomobgyn.com/placental_abruption.htm)
Pre-Eclampsia (http://www.preeclampsia.org/)