Do ectopic pregnancies require surgery?

Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

Updated on September 08, 2024

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In general, if an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, further symptomatic examinations and treatments are necessary. Normally, it is recommended to determine the specific location of the ectopic pregnancy and any changes in vital signs under ultrasound examination. If the patient's vital signs are stable, the ectopic site has not ruptured, and there is no intraperitoneal bleeding, conservative medical treatment can be temporarily administered.

If severe intraperitoneal bleeding has occurred, accompanied by changes in vital signs, it is advisable to promptly proceed with surgical treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia

Obstetrics

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What is the best treatment for ectopic pregnancy?

In cases where an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, timely treatment is necessary. Generally, around 50 days into the pregnancy, there is a possibility of the ectopic pregnancy rupturing, so early treatment is crucial. If it is discovered before rupture, conservative treatment can be an option. However, if an ectopic rupture has already occurred, surgical treatment is required. The type of surgery depends on the specific situation; women who wish to preserve their fertility may undergo a salpingostomy, whereas those without fertility needs may undergo salpingectomy.

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Written by Li Li Jie

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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How to Self-Diagnose an Ectopic Pregnancy

Generally, ectopic pregnancy can be ruled out through one's own symptoms and signs. Firstly, through one's own clinical symptoms, if pregnancy has been confirmed by a urinary pregnancy test and the patient does not experience abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or other such conditions, but does experience significant early pregnancy reactions like nausea and vomiting, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is small. It can generally be judged to be an intrauterine pregnancy. However, self-diagnosis is not very accurate, and ultimately, it depends on an ultrasound to see the intrauterine gestational sac to confirm whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy. Therefore, the most scientific method is to go to the hospital for an ultrasound and have a blood test for HCG. This method is more scientifically accurate. If an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, surgical treatment must be pursued immediately as it can be life-threatening.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang

Obstetrics and Gynecology

41sec

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Can you have intercourse with an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy and sexual intercourse often occur when the patient is unaware, specifically during the early stages when there is no bleeding, no abdominal pain, and only amenorrhea is present; intercourse might occur under these circumstances. However, if there is irregular vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain, suspecting an ectopic pregnancy, it is advised not to have intercourse. This is because intercourse can cause excitement, which might lead some ectopic pregnancy masses to rupture, potentially causing severe bleeding.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 3sec

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Ectopic pregnancy medical conservative treatment

Under normal circumstances, the treatment of ectopic pregnancy is generally divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Conservative treatment is usually applied when the ectopic pregnancy has not ruptured, using medication for about a week. After one week, a follow-up examination is done to check blood HCG levels and an ultrasound scan. If blood HCG levels have dropped significantly, the ultrasound shows that the mass has not grown, and the symptoms of abdominal pain have decreased, it indicates that the conservative treatment was successful. The threat is only considered resolved when blood HCG returns to normal levels. Otherwise, the conservative treatment for ectopic pregnancy may fail, and surgery will be necessary to treat the ectopic pregnancy symptomatically. If there is a particularly large amount of bleeding or a rupture has occurred, surgical treatment is the only option.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 8sec

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What are the early signs of ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy is a common term for what is known as a displaced pregnancy; that is, a condition where the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterine cavity. Therefore, ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy are different. In the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, if there is no splitting of the pregnancy sac or bleeding, there generally are no symptoms. However, the condition can be understood and assessed through some auxiliary examinations. For example, after the cessation of menstruation, an ectopic pregnancy might be accompanied by a small amount of vaginal bleeding, and blood tests for HCG might show that the HCG levels do not double as expected. Or, at a certain gestational week, such as six or seven weeks, an ultrasound might not reveal a pregnancy sac. These are all precursors to an ectopic pregnancy, and if these signs appear, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is very high.