Abdominal pregnancy: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and possible consequences

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

The female body is very complex, and sometimes some processes in it do not proceed as usual. Most often, pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg is fixed in the uterus. But sometimes it turns out to be outside, that is, in the abdominal cavity. This is not considered a disease, but it is not quite normal either. In this case, a woman has an ectopic pregnancy in the abdominal cavity.

With this type of egg fixation, there is a high risk of any he alth consequences. This article will discuss abdominal ectopic pregnancy, its signs, symptoms and diagnosis. And also we will talk about what consequences may occur and how to treat.

Abdomen Pregnancy

This type occurs when the embryo does not enter the uterus, but into the abdominal cavity. According to statistics, the number of such pregnancies is less than 1%, which means that this does not happen often. If a woman has any pathological changes in the body, then she canbe in the risk zone. Of course, this will harm the body, but how severe the consequences will be depends on many factors, for example, where exactly the egg cell will penetrate, whether there are large blood vessels nearby, and violations of the endocrine system. Abdominal pregnancy is a good reason for surgical intervention if there is a threat to the life of a woman. And the obstetrician-gynecologist will deal with the treatment.

Reasons

The occurrence of this pathology can occur in 2 cases:

1. The egg before fertilization was in the abdominal cavity, and then attached to the organs. This pregnancy is primary.
2. The embryo appeared in the fallopian tube, which rejected it, and it got into the cavity. Here the embryo was once again implanted. This is a secondary abdominal pregnancy.

To identify which of the two reasons has become the main one is almost impossible even for doctors.

Other factors

Other factors that determine the development of the fetus in the abdominal cavity are:

1. Diseases of the female reproductive system (ovaries and uterus).
2. Increase in size of the pipes (they have become longer) or their mechanical damage as a result of injuries.
3. Benign tumors (cysts).
4. In vitro fertilization, because the woman is unable to conceive on her own for any reason.
5. Misuse of contraception such as an ectopic device.
6. Diseases of the internal organs, namely the adrenal glands andthyroid.
7. Elevated levels of the hormone progesterone, which has a direct effect on the menstrual cycle, ovulation, normal pregnancy and fetal development.
8. Violation of any important processes in a woman's body.
9. Bad habits - alcohol and smoking. Cigarette drinkers are twice as likely to have an abdominal pregnancy. And alcohol adversely affects the entire body as a whole. Both habits significantly reduce a woman's immunity, contribute to the deterioration of the reproductive system - the conductivity of the fallopian tubes becomes lower, and ovulation occurs late or does not exist at all.
10. Constant stress and nervous state of a person. This leads to improper contraction of the fallopian tubes, in connection with which the embryo remains in them, and after rejection enters the abdominal cavity and is fixed there for further development and growth.
11. Women in adulthood. In women who are no longer in their early years, abdominal pregnancy has most often occurred recently. This is due to the fact that over the years the body wears out, the hormonal background of the lady changes, the fallopian tubes do not perform their function as actively as before. Therefore, there is a high risk that the embryo will linger in them, and then be rejected and enter the abdominal cavity. Women who have reached the age of 35 are more at risk of abdominal pregnancy than those who are between 20 and 30. This is why the age of a woman is very important when conceiving children.

Will the pregnancy be good?

How well an abdominal pregnancy will proceed depends on where the embryo is attached. If he does not have enough nutrients, then he will quickly die, and if he is in a place where there are many small blood vessels, then his development will become similar to the usual one in the uterus. With such a pregnancy, there is a very high probability that the unborn child will have any diseases or pathologies. Because in the abdominal cavity, he does not have proper protection. Inside the uterus, the fetus is protected by its walls, while outside it is at risk of damage.

In abdominal pregnancy, it is very rare for a woman to deliver a baby on time, usually babies are premature, born a few months early.

Surgery or an abortion may be required to avoid internal bleeding.

In general, we can conclude that this type of pregnancy is a very dangerous condition for a woman's life, which rarely ends in the birth of a viable child, so it is very important to diagnose it as early as possible.

Symptoms of Abdominal Pregnancy

A woman cannot always understand that a process of fertilization has taken place inside her and the development of an embryo will soon begin. It is very important to know the symptoms of the above pregnancy. They practically do not differ from the usual gestation. Pregnancy can be suspected at an early stage.

Signs of abdominal pregnancy:

1. Occurrence of nausea.
2. Increased sleepiness.
3. A sharp change in taste preferences.
4. Increased sense of smell.
5. Breast swelling.
6. The most exciting symptom for all women is menstrual irregularity (complete absence of discharge in due time).
7. Enlargement of the uterus, which was revealed during examination by a gynecologist. Also, the doctor may find the location of the fetus is not in the usual place.
8. Pain in the lower abdomen.
9. Abdominal pregnancy is sometimes recognized in the diagnosis of other diseases.
10. A woman may complain of feeling unwell, abdominal pain, weakness, constant dizziness, excessive sweating, frequent urination, pallor of the skin, etc.
11. If the fetus has damaged small vessels, then anemia is detected by tests.

Diagnosis

The sooner an abdominal pregnancy is detected, the better for the woman and her fetus. Because it will help reduce the risk of complications and keep the child where possible. Such a pregnancy can be recognized when visiting a gynecologist.

Ultrasound

Can I do an abdominal ultrasound during pregnancy? The answer is positive. Because it is one of the main diagnostic methods. An ultrasound begins with an examination of the uterus and its tubes, and if an embryo is not found there, then it is searched for in the abdominal cavity. Now you know the answer to the exciting question, is it possible tocavities during pregnancy to do. You can safely go for this examination.

Laparoscopy

If these two methods do not confirm the presence of a fetus in the abdominal cavity, then a decision can be made to perform a laparoscopy. This intervention allows you to accurately diagnose pregnancy and, if necessary, immediately remove the fertilized egg. This procedure is carried out at an early stage. If the placenta destroys the internal organs of a woman, then it is removed with the help of laparoscopy, and the damaged areas are gradually restored or sutured. Usually laparoscopy is done through several punctures. But if you need to get something big, then they also make a cut.

Early diagnosis will help avoid complications

Diagnosis of abdominal pregnancy is very often carried out in the early stages. After that, a decision is made on the preservation of the fetus or its removal, as well as on the necessary treatment. The outcome of timely recognition is usually favorable. But in the case of diagnosis in the later stages, complications may arise in a woman. Until her death due to internal bleeding, severe disruption of the internal organs or their destruction.

Can a woman give birth to a baby with this type of pregnancy?

A woman can bear a child, but the probability of this is small. Only a few cases have been cited in the medical literature when patients with late-diagnosed abdominal pregnancies were able to safely give birth to a baby. The child in this case is rarely he althy and full. He has various anomalies.

There was a case when a woman was urgently operated on because of suspected appendicitis, and instead of the disease, a child was found there, which the mother did not even suspect. The baby was born quite he althy.

Treatment

Most often, abdominal pregnancies are terminated because of the threat to the woman's life and the risk of having a sick child. After the diagnosis, a laparoscopic operation is performed to remove the fertilized egg or placenta. After that, doctors restore the woman's he alth, prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and special procedures.

Abdominal pregnancy does not end well in most cases. Therefore, its timely interruption is considered the best way out. Sometimes the body itself rejects the fertilized egg and spontaneous abortion occurs. But if there was no timely diagnosis, then surgical intervention is necessary.

Consequences

Complications after this pregnancy depend only on the degree of implantation of the embryo in the abdominal organs. It happens that during the operation it is necessary to remove the whole organ or part of it. In some cases, simply stitching the wounds together is sufficient.

Very low probability of technical errors and complications during the operation. Therefore, the reproductive system remains mostly functional.