Ectopic pregnancy can it happen again

Most women who have had an ectopic pregnancy will be able to get pregnant again, even if they've had a fallopian tube removed. Occasionally, it may be necessary to use fertility treatment such as IVF. If you do become pregnant again, it's a good idea to let your GP know as soon as possible so early scans can be carried out to check everything is OK.

In many cases, it's not clear why a woman has an ectopic pregnancy. Sometimes it happens when there's a problem with the fallopian tubes, such as them being narrow or blocked. You can't always prevent an ectopic pregnancy, but you can reduce your risk by using a condom when not trying for a baby to protect yourself against STIs, and by stopping smoking if you smoke. Page last reviewed: 27 November Next review due: 27 November Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy An ectopic pregnancy doesn't always cause symptoms and may only be detected during a routine pregnancy scan.

If you do have symptoms, they tend to develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. Symptoms can include a combination of: a missed period and other signs of pregnancy tummy pain low down on 1 side vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge pain in the tip of your shoulder discomfort when peeing or pooing But these symptoms aren't necessarily a sign of a serious problem.

When to get medical advice Contact your GP or call NHS if you have a combination of any of the above symptoms and you might be pregnant — even if you haven't had a positive pregnancy test. An ectopic pregnancy can be serious, so it's important to get advice right away.

Read more about ectopic pregnancy tests. How an ectopic pregnancy is treated There are 3 main treatments for an ectopic pregnancy: expectant management — you're carefully monitored and 1 of the treatments below is used if the fertilised egg doesn't dissolve by itself medication — an injection of a powerful medicine called methotrexate is used to stop the pregnancy growing surgery — keyhole surgery laparoscopy is performed under general anaesthetic to remove the fertilised egg, usually along with the affected fallopian tube You'll be told about the benefits and risks of each option.

Help and support after an ectopic pregnancy Losing a pregnancy can be devastating, and many women feel the same sense of grief as if they had lost a family member or partner. Support groups for people who have been affected by loss of a pregnancy can also help. Trying for another baby You may want to try for another baby when you and your partner feel physically and emotionally ready. To help do this our clinic is proud to offer the most advanced fertility care available throughout Alabama.

Some of the services we offer include fertility testing, fertility treatment, and reproductive surgery. We also have a selection of frozen and fresh donor eggs for our patients. We encourage any potential patients to learn more about our team, our medical specialties, and how we can help you.

We also encourage those interested in fertility treatment to view our program overview to find the right fit for your conception, fertilization, and pregnancy needs.

Alabama Fertility Update. You can have a successful pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic Pregnancy: The Diagnosis and Treatment Options Most pregnancies implant inside the uterine cavity, however, occasionally they implant outside the endometrium inside of the uterus which is called an ectopic pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy? There are two primary treatment options for ectopic pregnancies: medication or surgery. Finding the Right Fertility Specialist after an Ectopic Pregnancy A couple of things to keep in mind when considering getting pregnant after an ectopic pregnancy are first, that most doctors advise women to wait around 3 months to conceive if you received methotrexate injections. Learn more about conceiving after ectopic pregnancy from Alabama Fertility in Birmingham, AL At Alabama Fertility Specialists , we treat all patients with the care and compassion that complex reproductive issues require.

Your risk factors and any fallopian tube damage you may have will impact your future risk and your ability to become pregnant. Your doctor can answer your questions based on your risk factors. Medicine can only be used for early ectopic pregnancies that have not ruptured. Depending on where the ectopic growth is and what type of surgery would otherwise be used, medicine may be less likely than surgical treatment to cause fallopian tube damage.

Medicine is most likely to work when an early ectopic pregnancy is not causing bleeding and:. For an ectopic pregnancy that is more developed, surgery is a safer and more dependable treatment.

Methotrexate is used to stop the growth of an early ectopic pregnancy. It can also be used after surgical ectopic treatment to ensure that all ectopic cell growth has stopped. Methotrexate treatment is usually the first choice for ending an early ectopic pregnancy. If the pregnancy is further along, surgery is safer and more likely than medicine to be effective.

Routine follow-up blood tests are needed for days to weeks after the medicine is injected. Methotrexate can cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea. For information about how to minimize side effects, see these tips for managing methotrexate treatment. If your ectopic pregnancy is not too far advanced and has not ruptured, methotrexate may be a treatment option for you.

Successful methotrexate treatment of an early ectopic pregnancy avoids the risks of surgery, may be less likely to damage the fallopian tube than surgery, and is more likely to preserve your fertility. If you are not concerned with preserving fertility, surgery for an ectopic pregnancy is faster than methotrexate treatment and will likely cause less bleeding. When possible, surgery is done through a small incision using laparoscopy.

This type of surgery usually has a short recovery period. An ectopic pregnancy can be removed from a fallopian tube by using salpingostomy or salpingectomy. Both salpingostomy and salpingectomy can be done either through a small incision using laparoscopy or through a larger open abdominal incision laparotomy.

Laparoscopy takes less time than laparotomy. And the hospital stay is shorter. But for an abdominal ectopic pregnancy or an emergency tubal ectopic removal, a laparotomy is usually required. When an ectopic pregnancy is located in an unruptured fallopian tube, every attempt is made to remove the pregnancy without removing or damaging the tube.

Emergency surgery is needed for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Your future fertility and your risk of having another ectopic pregnancy will be affected by your own risk factors. These can include smoking, use of assisted reproductive technology ART to get pregnant, and how much fallopian tube damage you have. As long as you have one healthy fallopian tube, salpingostomy small tubal slit and salpingectomy part of a tube removed have about the same effect on your future fertility.

But if your other tube is damaged, your doctor may try to do a salpingostomy. This may improve your chances of getting pregnant in the future. Author: Healthwise Staff. 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 and Privacy Policy.

Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is an ectopic pregnancy? What causes an ectopic pregnancy? Things that make you more likely to have fallopian tube damage and an ectopic pregnancy include: Smoking. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Pelvic inflammatory disease PID. This is often the result of an infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Endometriosis , which can cause scar tissue in or around the fallopian tubes. Being exposed to the chemical DES before you were born. These include: Surgery on the fallopian tubes or in the pelvic area.

Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization. What are the symptoms? The key signs of an ectopic pregnancy are: Pelvic or belly pain. It may be sharp on one side at first and then spread through your belly. It may be worse when you move or strain. Vaginal bleeding. How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed? To find out if you have an ectopic pregnancy, your doctor will likely do: A pelvic examination to check the size of your uterus and feel for growths or tenderness in your belly.

A blood test that checks the level of the pregnancy hormone hCG. This test is repeated 2 days later. During early pregnancy, the level of this hormone doubles every 2 days.

Low levels suggest a problem, such as ectopic pregnancy. An ultrasound. This test can show pictures of what is inside your belly. With ultrasound, a doctor can usually see a pregnancy in the uterus 6 weeks after your last menstrual period.

How is it treated? What can you expect after an ectopic pregnancy? But it does mean that: You may have trouble getting pregnant. You are more likely to have another ectopic pregnancy. Cause Fallopian tube damage is a common cause of ectopic pregnancy.

Common causes of fallopian tube damage that may lead to an ectopic pregnancy include: Smoking. Smoking is thought to damage the fallopian tubes' ability to move the fertilized egg toward the uterus. Pelvic inflammatory disease PID , such as from a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection.

PID can create scar tissue in the fallopian tubes. Fallopian tube surgery, often used to reverse a tubal ligation or to repair a scarred or blocked tube. A previous ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube. Symptoms An early ectopic pregnancy often feels like a normal pregnancy. A woman with an ectopic pregnancy may experience common signs of early pregnancy, such as: A missed menstrual period. Tender breasts. Increased urination. First signs of an ectopic pregnancy may include: Vaginal bleeding, which may be light.

Abdominal belly pain or pelvic pain, usually 6 to 8 weeks after a missed period. As an ectopic pregnancy progresses, though, other symptoms may develop, including: Belly pain or pelvic pain that may get worse with movement or straining. It may occur sharply on one side at first and then spread throughout the pelvic region.

Heavy or severe vaginal bleeding. Pain with intercourse or during a pelvic examination. Dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting syncope caused by internal bleeding. Signs of shock. Shoulder pain caused by bleeding into the abdomen under the diaphragm. The bleeding irritates the diaphragm and is experienced as shoulder pain.

What Happens Normally, at the beginning of a pregnancy, the fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus , where it implants and grows. 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. Complications of ectopic pregnancy Ectopic pregnancy can damage the fallopian tube, which can make it difficult to become pregnant in the future. What Increases Your Risk Things that can increase your risk of having an ectopic pregnancy include: A previous ectopic pregnancy.

Past or present cigarette smoking. The more you smoke, the higher the risk. Experts suspect that smoking affects fallopian tube function. A history of pelvic inflammatory disease PID , often caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. Exposure to the chemical DES diethylstilbestrol before you were born.