Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus, usually within the fallopian tube. It’s a pregnancy that happens anywhere except inside the uterus where it’s supposed to happen.

It is life-threatening for the mother and cannot support the full-term growth of the baby.

What are the causes of an ectopic pregnancy?

In most pregnancies, the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tube to the womb. If the movement of the egg is blocked or slowed through the tubes, it can lead to an ectopic pregnancy.

It is more common in women with the following conditions:

• Infertility or difficulty conceiving.
• Endometriosis.
• Sexually transmitted diseases, which can cause infection and scarring in the pelvis.
• Tubal surgery.
• Scarring from past infections or surgery of the female organs.
• Smoking just before conceiving.
• Experiencing discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Ectopic Pregnancy Treatment at KLASS

Where medical excellence & compassionate care unite

Gynecologist in Kenya, Prof. Rafique Parkar of Kenya Laparoscopic Surgery Services (KLASS) offers comprehensive gynecology care in Kenya and the world for women of all ages.

At KLASS we provide a full range of gynecology services, from annual check-ups and routine pap smears to ectopic pregnancy treatment and procedures.

From the comfortable environment, we have created, to the personal concierge service we devote to each patient, you will notice a distinctive difference with our services

Do you have questions about ectopic pregnancies or other gynecologic conditions? Schedule an appointment with the top-rated laparoscopic surgeon in Kenya, Prof. Rafique Parkar of KLASS, where medical excellence and compassionate care for our patients unite.

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

It can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms often are like those of a normal early pregnancy. These can include missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, low back pain, and frequent urination.

When the embryo implants in the fallopian tube, there is usually not enough blood flow to keep the embryo healthy therefore it dies.

The tube may begin to expel some of the tissues or bleed. Some embryos continue to grow and may become large enough to break through the fallopian tube.

Often, the first warning signs of an ectopic or tubal pregnancy are pain or vaginal bleeding. There might be a pain in the pelvis, abdomen which ranges from mild and dull to severe and sharp. It might be felt on just one side of the pelvis or all over.
More warning symptoms include:

• Fainting or feeling faint.
• Intense pressure in the rectum.
• Low blood pressure due to blood loss.
• Pain in the shoulder and neck area, this happens if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves.
• Dizziness caused by blood loss.

Who is at risk for an ectopic pregnancy?

While any woman can have this type of pregnancy, the risk is higher for women who are older than 35 and those who have:

• Had your tubes tied. This is more likely 2 or more years after the procedure.
• Had surgery to untie tubes to become pregnant.
• Had many sexual partners.
• Some infertility treatments.

Some birth control methods can also affect a woman’s risk of ectopic pregnancy. Those who become pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD) might be more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. Smoking also increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing is through a pelvic exam where your doctor looks for inappropriate pain and tenderness.

Sometimes, tubal pregnancy can be felt in the fallopian tubes as it grows. An ultrasound is performed to try to find the location of the pregnancy.

During testing, your hormone levels are checked for abnormalities, since your human chorionic gonadotrophin (or HCG) levels usually are lower than the period of gestation, if you have an ectopic pregnancy. Higher than normal progesterone levels also may indicate the presence of an abnormal pregnancy.

Laparoscopy may also be used to diagnose an ectopic or tubal pregnancy.

Preventing an ectopic pregnancy

Most forms of ectopic pregnancy that occur outside the fallopian tubes are probably not preventable. A woman may be able to prevent a tubal pregnancy in which the fetus implants in a fallopian tube, if conditions that scar the tube can be avoided.

Risks can be minimized by:

1. Practicing safer sex by taking steps before and during sex, which can prevent you from getting an infection.
2. Getting early diagnosis and treatment of all infections caused by sexual relations (STDs).
3. Quit smoking.
4. Limiting the number of sex partners.

   Women with unavoidable conditions such as infertility, a birth defect in the fallopian tube, endometriosis, or age-related risks should get regular checkups by a qualified gynecologist familiar with tubal pregnancy.

Advanced Treatment Options at KLASS

Early treatment is best for your overall health and for recovering as much of your reproductive organs as possible. As earlier indicated, a tubal pregnancy is life-threatening, therefore, the developing cells must be removed to save the mother’s life.

Ectopic pregnancy may be treated in several ways depending on whether the fallopian tube has ruptured or not, the development level of the pregnancy, and the mother’s hormone levels.

• Medication – the drug methotrexate stops the development of the pregnancy and is most effective with an early diagnosis of the condition.
• Laparoscopic surgery (possibly including laparoscopy with salpingostomy or salpingectomy): A surgical procedure to make a small incision where the ectopic tissue is safely removed through. If the tube is damaged, total or partial salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tube) may be necessary.

Ectopic Pregnancy Care With Prof. Rafique Parkar

Platinum level of care

Prof. Rafique Parkar pioneered Minimal Access Surgery in Africa 25 years ago and operates at the highest level of expertise in Africa. ( Level VI )

He is committed to improving the lifestyles of women in Kenya and the world by helping them gain access to top-level minimal access surgery in Africa.

He strongly believes that all women have the right to informed consent and should have access to the best treatment plans suited for them and that is the reason why he founded KLASS ( Kenya Laparoscopic Surgery Services ).

Together with his team at KLASS, they provide the highest level of holistic surgical care to women, ensuring that they meet their individual health needs.

Prof. Rafique Parkar specializes in helping women who ail from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Uterine Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Endometriosis, Pelvic Floor Problems, and Gynecologic Cancers.