An ectopic pregnancy is usually detected early if it is in the fallopian tube but can be detected as late as the third trimester if it is an abdominal or cornual ectopic pregnancy.

Approximately 100,000 ectopic pregnancies occur each year, and relatively few are caused by sterilization.  Often the actual cause is unknown, but many cases result from tubal damage incurred from infections due to contracting a sexually transmitted disease.  Ectopic pregnancies are the leading cause of pregnancy related deaths in the first trimester and account for 9% of all pregnancy related deaths in the United States.   www.cdc.gov/

When we think of the term ectopic pregnancy we frequently imagine a pregnancy that has occurred in the fallopian tube.  This is an accurate representation about 95% of the time.  The other forms of ectopic pregnancy include:  broad ligament/intraligamentous, abdominal, ovarian, cornual and cervical, (see diagram).

Ectopic pregnancy is the number one cause of death of women in the first trimester of pregnancy.  With the numbers of ectopic pregnancies on the rise, it is important to understand more about ectopic pregnancies.

If you believe you are at risk for an ectopic pregnancy, meet with your doctor to discuss your options before you become pregnant.  There is a test available called HSG to check if your tubes are open.  However, the HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) cannot confirm if the tube is functioning properly.

There is nothing anyone can do to prevent an ectopic pregnancy, but you can make sure it’s detected early.  You and your doctor may want to plan on checking your hCG levels or scheduling an ultrasound.

Call your doctor immediately if you are pregnant and experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.