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Ectopic Pregnancy
Normally, at the beginning of a pregnancy, the fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it implants and grows. But in about 2% of diagnosed pregnancies, the fertilized egg attaches to an area outside of the uterus, which results in an ectopic pregnancy (also known as a tubal pregnancy or an extrauterine pregnancy).3
An
ectopic pregnancy 
cannot support the life of a fetus for very long. But an
ectopic pregnancy can grow large enough to rupture the area it occupies, cause
heavy bleeding, and endanger the mother. A woman with signs or symptoms of an
ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical
care.
In most ectopic pregnancies, the fertilized egg has implanted in a fallopian tube.
In rare cases:
- The egg attaches and grows in an ovary, the
cervix, or the abdominal cavity (outside of the
reproductive system ).
- One or more eggs grow in the uterus, and one or more grow in a fallopian tube, the cervix, or the abdominal cavity. This is called a heterotopic pregnancy.
See a picture of
locations where an ectopic pregnancy can develop .
Complications of ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy can damage the fallopian tube, which can make it difficult to become pregnant in the future.
Ectopic pregnancies are usually detected early enough to prevent deadly complications such as severe bleeding. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy requires emergency surgery to prevent heavy bleeding into the abdomen. The affected tube is partially or fully removed. For more information, see the Surgery section of this topic.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 6, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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