Ectopic pregnancy: The most common risk factors

There are the most common risk factors that are associated with the onset of ectopic pregnancy.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease - a common name for a variety of bacterial infections of the female reproductive system. In most cases of this category are caused by infections of the vagina or cervix, which apply to reproductive organs located above.

Activators of pelvic inflammatory disease may be many types of bacteria, but most of them are chlamydia - bacteria which are transmitted through sexual contact with people who engage in unprotected sex with infected partners. Caused by chlamydia infection - chlamydia, often does not cause any symptoms, so women for a long time may be unaware that they are infected. However, bacteria cause inflammation of the fallopian tubes, which is four times violation increases the probability of occurrence of an ectopic pregnancy.

• Ectopic pregnancy history

Women with a history of ectopic pregnancy the risk of ectopic pregnancy in the future, significantly higher than normal. Depending on other factors, ectopic pregnancy can occur in 10-25% of women with such a history.

• Transferred before surgery

Transferred before surgery, during which they discussed the fallopian tubes increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The main risk factors are as follows:

1. Female sterilization - surgery, known as tubal ligation. Approximately one hundred cases of this operation goes badly, the woman becomes pregnant, and this often leads to ectopic pregnancy:
2. Surgery to remove the embryo in the ectopic pregnancy.

• Infertility Treatment

Medications that stimulate ovulation can be about four times increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In addition, this type of infertility treatment Infertility treatment - modern methods As in vitro fertilization, it is not always successful, and in some cases it becomes a result of an ectopic pregnancy. It occurs in about one out of 22 patients undergoing IVF.

• Contraception

IUD is hormonal and non-hormonal, it is usually very reliable contraception - their efficiency reaches 99%. However, if a coil is used nevertheless become pregnant, it is more likely to be ectopic than normal.

Another risk factor for emergency contraception drugs. If the patient has taken an emergency contraceptive, and it did not work, there is a significant risk that this will come after an ectopic pregnancy.

Other risk factors

With the development of an ectopic pregnancy can also be linked to the following factors:

• Structural problems - the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy is more likely if the patient has an unusual structure of the fallopian tubes;
• Smoking - smoking women the risk of ectopic pregnancy is two times higher than non-smokers, and;
• Age older than 35 years.

Diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy only on the basis of existing symptoms is very difficult, because they are similar to the symptoms of many other disorders. If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy doctor will do a pelvic examination, and will offer the patient a pregnancy test Pregnancy tests - early diagnosis .

If you have symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, and the test was positive, the doctor will prescribe other diagnostic procedures.

• Blood test

If symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy came just weeks after the alleged pregnancy, the patient can be made to a blood test to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - a hormone produced by the placenta. In patients with an ectopic pregnancy, as well as the threat of miscarriage The threat of miscarriage - how to prevent spontaneous abortion , HCG levels are generally significantly lower than the norm.

• Transvaginal ultrasound

The technology is often used for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. During the procedure, the vagina administered thin instrument with which the monitor displays an image of the reproductive organs. Transvaginal ultrasound allows, in particular, examine in detail the condition of the fallopian tubes, and to determine exactly where developing an ectopic pregnancy.

• Laparoscopy

If using a transvaginal ultrasound was unable to confirm the diagnosis of "ectopic pregnancy", the patient can be assigned to laparoscopy. Through a small incision in the abdomen is entered thin tube with a camera and lighting - a laparoscope. This tool allows you to examine in detail the uterus and fallopian tubes from the inside. Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia.

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