Ectopic pregnancy is not a normal pregnancy. In normal pregnancy, the sperms reach the egg in the fallopian tube, where fertilization occurs and then, this fertilized egg travels on to reach the uterus and implants itself there to complete the gestation period. However, in ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg fails to reach the uterus for the gestation period and instead implant itself anywhere outside uterus, like cervix, fallopian tube, abdominal cavity. In general, in ectopic pregnancy cases, the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube.
Causes of Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy occurs as a result of the fertilized egg’s inability to travel down the fallopian tube and into the uterus. This may be caused by an infection, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, or swelling that has formed an obstruction inside the tube.
Tubal surgery – women who have had operations on their tubes are more at risk of ectopic. This includes tubal ligatoin, reversal of sterilisation or tubal surgery for a previous ectopic.
Previous ectopic – about 10-20% of those attempting pregnancy after one ectopic will have another. Read more...