What kind of pain in ectopic pregnancy, how to recognize?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Unfortunately, 10-15% of women face such an unpleasant diagnosis as ectopic pregnancy. The name speaks for itself. In the description, we will consider many questions: what is it, symptoms, causes, how does an ectopic pregnancy hurt and much more.

Ectopic pregnancy - attachment of the ovum not to the walls of the uterus. A fertilized egg may remain in the ovary, attach to the cervix, or enter the abdominal cavity. The most common cases include the attachment of the fetal egg to the wall of the fallopian tube. Pregnancy is characterized by atypical localization, which threatens the woman's he alth and requires emergency surgical intervention.

Description

In a normal pregnancy, the egg attaches itself to the bottom or body of the uterus. The difference between an atypical pregnancy is that the egg is not in the uterus. It has a different localization: in the fallopian tubes, ovary, abdominal cavity. Such a pregnancy cannot develop, it is life-threatening and is medical.indication for interruption. It is noted that the pain during an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages is very strong.

A woman herself cannot suspect a pathology. After all, it is clinically no different from a normal pregnancy. Many people ask questions: “Does the chest hurt during an ectopic pregnancy? Is there any toxicosis? Is there sleepiness?”.

Yes, of course! Here everything is the same: there is a delay in menstruation, the mammary glands increase, milky passages are outlined, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and salivation may occur. An alarming complication of such a pregnancy can be bleeding and loss of consciousness, and the woman should immediately consult a doctor.

Reasons

The cause of this pathology is an obstacle on the way of a fertilized egg from the ovary to the uterus. This obstacle is associated with a decrease in the patency of the fallopian tubes (inflammation after an abortion, endometriosis, miscarriage, the use of an intrauterine device as a means of contraception), anomalies in their development, as well as in the ovaries or uterus, oncological changes in the internal genital organs, hormonal disorders or difficult childbirth, after which adhesions form in tissues.

In addition, women of the older age category (after 35 years) can also be attributed to the risk group, since by this age a woman has a fairly “rich” set of both general somatic and gynecological diseases and disorders, changes in hormonal status and often the presenceabortion history.

How to recognize?

When an ectopic pregnancy hurts the breast test strips will show a positive result. Pathology is difficult to suspect. However, the hCG level will constantly fluctuate and deviate from the normal, corresponding to a certain period.

Such an interesting condition, as a rule, is accompanied by one-sided most unpleasant pains in the lower abdomen. Unpleasant condition may intensify with a change in the position of the body. Pain during an ectopic pregnancy may be similar to menstrual or cramping.

But the only reliable method of establishing the place of attachment of the future fetus is ultrasound diagnostics by transvaginal access.

With timely diagnosis and treatment methods, an ectopic pregnancy does not cause a significant blow to the body. And with well-chosen follow-up therapy, a woman can resume trying to become a mother in just 3-6 months after the termination of such a pregnancy.

Stopping the fetal egg in the fallopian tube is dangerous because its tissues are not elastic enough and cannot stretch simultaneously with the growing embryo. There is a rupture of the tube, the blood, along with the tissues and the fetal egg, enters the abdominal cavity, which can lead to peritonitis. In addition, the rupture of any organ will be accompanied by acute pain during an ectopic pregnancy and profuse bleeding. This endangers the woman's life and requires immediate hospitalization in the intensive care unit.under the constant supervision of doctors.

Removal of an ectopic pregnancy is usually performed by laparotomy. Through a small incision in the abdomen, the surgeon gains access to the fetal egg. At the same time, all instruments have sensors, and any manipulation by a specialist is displayed on the monitor. Depending on the duration of pregnancy, the doctor can remove only the fetal egg, the egg with part of the damaged tissue, or the entire uterine tube. Therefore, the sooner a woman sees a doctor, the less harm will be done to her he alth. Pain after an ectopic pregnancy will remain in the memory of a woman for a long time.

However, the treatment does not end there. It is necessary to undergo a course of restorative therapy, as well as to eliminate the possible causes of the recurrence of an ectopic pregnancy. It is necessary to treat infections, inflammatory processes, restore hormonal imbalance.

With timely diagnosis and termination, as well as competent subsequent treatment and rehabilitation, a woman will be able to forget the pain of an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages. She will be able to recover and give birth to a he althy baby.

Risk factors

There are cases in which the fetal egg is attached outside the uterus due to some kind of malfunction of the tubal canal. This is a complication and is called an ectopic pregnancy. Unfortunately, such a fetus has no chance of surviving. This phenomenon is very dangerous for a woman's he alth, as it is fraught with bleeding and, if ignored, can cost her life.

Under normal conditionsthe fertilized ovum descends into the uterus and attaches to its wall. But with an ectopic pregnancy, everything happens the other way around, it moves away from it and attaches either in the tube, or in the ovary, or in general in the abdominal cavity. The lack of a favorable environment for the development of the unborn baby provokes the ingrowth of the fetus into the organ to which it is attached. As a result, internal bleeding occurs.

This pregnancy is divided into ovarian, tubal or abdominal. It all depends on the place of attachment of the embryo. Of course, such situations are extremely rare and occur in 1-2 cases out of 100.

There are some risk factors:

• if there was an operation in the abdominal region;
• failure in the hormonal background;
• due to diseases of the female reproductive organs;
• benign or malignant tumor of the reproductive organs.

It begins in the same way as usual, and the first weeks proceed in the same way. Suspicious symptoms begin to occur from 3 to 9 weeks. What are the pains in an ectopic pregnancy? These include symptoms like this.

• Pain syndrome with aching, stabbing pain during ectopic pregnancy. It occurs in the lower abdomen, in the area of attachment of the embryo. There may be pain during emptying.
• There is bleeding of the vessels of the organ where the fetal egg is located, and there may also be uterine bleeding. Mostly like menstruation, but not as heavy.

Degrees

Doctors divide it into several degrees. The first is when the embryo, during its growth, digs into the walls of the tube and tears it. The second degree is divided into two types.

The first is when an ectopic pregnancy, where the pain is usually strong, is interrupted on its own, and the egg is released into the abdominal region. Accompanied by bleeding and pain. The uterus is enlarged, but does not coincide with the term. Such a pregnancy is usually accompanied by unilateral pain in the lower abdomen. Discomfort may increase with a change in body position. Pain during an ectopic pregnancy resembles contractions or menstrual cramps. There is bloody or spotting discharge.

The second is a fallopian tube rupture. Happens at 7-10 weeks. In this case, it is important to immediately seek help! This is life threatening.

A woman must undergo a course of rehabilitation, which is aimed at restoring childbearing function after such an unsuccessful pregnancy. On average, a rehabilitation course lasts six months, after which a woman can start planning a child.

What causes this pregnancy?

The fertilized egg does not reach the uterus, resulting in its incorrect location and pathological development. The maturation of the egg can occur in the fallopian tube, ovary or abdominal cavity. The reason is:

• Abortion.
• Underdevelopment or improper development of the reproductive system.
• Lack or excess of hormones.
• Clogging of the fallopian tubes or disruption of their innervation.
• Diseases of the endocrine system.
• Contraception.

Symptomatics

At the very beginning, an ectopic pregnancy is difficult to distinguish from a normal one. A woman has identical signs: increased appetite - she can eat day and night, toxicosis - nausea can occur immediately or a little later, weakness, drowsiness, swelling of the mammary glands, lack of menstruation. Only after 3-6 weeks do symptoms begin to appear, indicating that the woman has a pregnancy pathology.

• Pain during ectopic pregnancy. A terrible state when everything aches and there is no strength to endure it all. What are the pains in an ectopic pregnancy? Cramping pains in the abdomen. Usually they are aching and cramping in nature. Urination becomes painful, sometimes bloody.
• Bleeding. Bleeding during an ectopic pregnancy occurs in the abdominal cavity. It is also possible that uterine bleeding occurs. The reason for this is a sharp decrease in progesterone levels. It is the hormone progesterone in women that stimulates the growth of the uterus. It blocks uterine contractions and stops the menstrual cycle during pregnancy.
• Shock condition. A pregnant woman's blood pressure drops. A drop in blood pressure is also associated with a decrease in the level of the hormone progesterone. The skin is of an unhe althy color, profuse bleeding begins, and as a result - loss of consciousness. There are also pains in the lower abdomen during an ectopic pregnancy.

How to diagnose?

Positivea pregnancy test and the occurrence of at least one of the familiar symptoms should cause a woman to go to the doctor. Examination procedures will be scheduled for diagnosis.

Ultrasound done transvaginally will be more effective. The doctor will determine the concentration of human chronic gonadotropin. If the hCG level is 1500, but the fetal egg is not detected during diagnostic examinations, then the diagnosis is made - pregnancy outside the uterus.

Treatment

The only way to solve the problem is surgery. Laparoscopy is common. During the operation, the fetal egg is removed, fixed outside the uterus. In case of difficulties, plastic surgery is used. Plastic surgery will restore the integrity of the fallopian tube. Fallopian tubes are important for pregnancy.

Ectopic pregnancy diagnosed early is treated with chemotherapy. Gradual resorption of the fetal egg is performed by methotrexate. Removing the fallopian tube is dangerous. This increases the chance of infertility or another ectopic pregnancy.

What is the risk of an ectopic pregnancy?

As mentioned above, a fertilized egg enters the fallopian tube and begins to develop there. The problem is that the tube is not suitable for the growth of the fetus, since its wall does not have sufficient elasticity and extensibility, and also has a relatively small diameter.

Accordingly, having reached a certain point (4-6th week of pregnancy), chorionic villigrow into the wall of the tube, after which it breaks and there is an outpouring of blood into the abdominal cavity (hemoperitoneum with possible further development of peritonitis). Clinically, this is manifested by a sharp "dagger" pain in the lower abdomen, pallor, dizziness, cold sticky sweat, loss of consciousness. When a large vessel ruptures, bleeding can be life-threatening and requires immediate attention.

In some cases, the wall of the fetal egg is torn, after which it is expelled into the abdominal cavity. The clinical picture is similar to that of a tube rupture, but may be less pronounced or take longer to develop over time.

Conclusion

After a certain period of time, the symptoms of the pain of an ectopic pregnancy subside, and the woman thinks that everything is fine, but this is a false well-being. After all, the blood continues to pour into the abdominal cavity. That is why it is impossible to leave such a state without due attention. The woman must be urgently hospitalized and operated on. It should also be noted that the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally after such a pathology is reduced, and the risk of a repeat scenario increases.