HealthInfo Canterbury
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is when an egg becomes fertilised and attaches outside of the womb. It happens in around one in 100 pregnancies.
Unfortunately, an ectopic pregnancy can't survive. Because it can risk the mother's life, women who have an ectopic pregnancy often need treatment to end it. This can be a very difficult, stressful and upsetting time for the woman and her partner.
Diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy
It's common to have some mild period-like cramping and discomfort during the first trimester of pregnancy. But if you have significant pain or bleeding in early pregnancy, it's important that you contact your GP, midwife or LMC to find out what's causing it.
These symptoms could be an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage. Other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are pain at the tip of your shoulder, unexplained diarrhoea, fainting and dizziness.
If you get sudden severe abdominal (tummy) pain or heavy bleeding in early pregnancy, contact your midwife or LMC immediately and go straight to the Emergency Department.
A doctor will examine you and arrange for you to have an urgent ultrasound scan if they think you have an ectopic pregnancy. You may also have a blood test to look at the level of pregnancy hormone (hCG) in your blood.
The ultrasound scan will usually help show where the pregnancy is – in your womb or somewhere else. Most women just need one ultrasound scan to pick up an ectopic pregnancy, but some women need more scans.
Treating an ectopic pregnancy
Usually, an ectopic pregnancy is picked up early. Once you've been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, you have a few treatment options depending on your situation.
Surgical treatment
If your ectopic pregnancy bursts (ruptures) and causes bleeding into your tummy (abdomen) you'll need urgent surgery. You may also need surgery if the ectopic pregnancy is likely to rupture soon, or if the diagnosis is unclear and the ultrasound scan can’t rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
Most surgery is done as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy), but some women need open surgery (laparotomy).
Most ectopic pregnancies grow in one of the uterine (fallopian) tubes as shown in the illustration. But they can also happen in other places.
During surgery, the pregnancy tissue is removed and if possible, the fallopian tube is repaired. This surgery is called a salpingotomy. Often, it isn't possible to repair the tube, in which case the whole fallopian tube is removed. This surgery is called a salpingectomy.
Expectant management ("watch and wait")
Many ectopic pregnancies will end on their own without needing any treatment, so some women are offered an option of watching and waiting.
This option is available to women who:
- aren't bleeding
- aren't in pain
- have falling levels of the pregnancy hormone (hCG) in their blood (tested over 48 hours) and
- have no foetal heart beat on their ultrasound scan.
If you're treated this way, the gynaecology team will monitor you to make sure the pregnancy is ending on its own as expected. You'll need to have regular blood tests to check that your hCG levels keep falling.
Medical management
This treatment uses a medicine called methotrexate, which is toxic to dividing cells so will end the pregnancy. It's available for women who:
- are diagnosed early and aren't otherwise unwell
- have a confirmed ectopic pregnancy and definitely no pregnancy in the womb
- can be available for follow-up after their treatment
- have no medical problems that mean they can't take methotrexate.
Before being offered this treatment you're likely to have blood tests and repeated ultrasound scans over several days. If doctors recommend this treatment for you, they'll give you more detailed information before the treatment starts.
After an ectopic pregnancy
It's a good idea to see your GP two to three weeks after having an ectopic pregnancy, for a general check-up and to see how things are going.
Women who've had an ectopic pregnancy often feel that others dismiss their feelings of grief at the loss of their baby. Urgent treatment can feel very clinical and it's easy for medical teams to forget to talk to women and couples about how they're feeling.
It's important to acknowledge and allow yourself to have these emotions. Make sure you either see your GP or a counsellor early if you're finding it hard to cope after the loss of your baby.
Most women will be able to have a normal pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy even if one of their fallopian tubes has been removed. It's best to have at least one regular period before trying to get pregnant again. If you don't want to get pregnant straight away, make sure you use contraception.
Getting help after an ectopic pregnancy
Losing a baby can be extremely upsetting. There are many places to get support and information.
- SANDS Canterbury provides a support service for parents who've lost a baby. You can contact your nearest group through the SANDS website.
- You can also get in touch with Christchurch Women's Hospital Social Work Services, who can help you with grief and loss. Phone them on (03) 364‑0420.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Kiwifamilies.co.nz – Ectopic pregnancy
About ectopic pregnancy, including what to expect afterwards.
- Patient.info – Ectopic pregnancy
More detailed information about ectopic pregnancies.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2022.
Review key: HIPLT-311303
