The reported incidence of tubal or ectopic pregnancy in the general population is 1%. Women who have experienced an ectopic pregnancy generally have a 10% to 15% risk for another ectopic pregnancy. The good news is that most women who have had an ectopic pregnancy will not have another one. The bad news is there are no options available to eliminate this risk entirely except adoption. All women who are attempting to conceive are inherently at risk for an ectopic pregnancy. Even women with absent or obstructed fallopian tubes can experience an ectopic pregnancy with IVF if the embryo becomes implanted in the section of the fallopian tube found within the muscle of the uterus (called an interstitial or cornual pregnancy). The rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF is usually 1% to 2%, far lower than the 15% recurrence risk with a spontaneous pregnancy. Show Fortunately, most ectopic pregnancies are readily diagnosed very early in pregnancy using blood hormone assays for beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) combined with transvaginal ultrasonography. It is now uncommon for such pregnancies to go undiagnosed leading to tubal rupture, hemorrhage, or death. Most ectopic pregnancies can be treated medically using low doses of methotrexate (a type of chemotherapy that selectively destroys the pregnancy tissue), thereby avoiding surgery. This medical therapy is 80% to 95% effective. Kristin comments:
Learn more about our fertility practice and ectopic treatment options at Dominion Fertility. 1. Will it happen again? 2. What are my chances of having a normal pregnancy? 3. When will I stop bleeding? 4. When can I try again for another
pregnancy? 5. I was told by doctors that I had a salpingostomy, what is
this? 6. When I had my operation the whole of the left tube was removed. If only part of the tube had been removed, would my chances of a subsequent pregnancy be increased? The evidence suggests that the ‘take home baby rate’ is the same whether part or all of the tube is removed. 7. As my ectopic pregnancy had burst, I had an abdominal operation rather than keyhole surgery. Would this affect my chance of becoming pregnant again? 8. When will my periods return? 9. What if I am rhesus negative? 10. Is there anything I can do to prevent another ectopic pregnancy? 11. Can I have an IUCD? 12. Will my next baby be abnormal? 13. What should I do if the pregnancy test is positive? 14. Will I have to have a caesarean section? Are you more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy if you've already had one?Your risk of having another ectopic pregnancy is much higher once you've had the first; as many as one in 10 women will have a second ectopic pregnancy. The increased risk is probably about the same whether your ectopic was treated with surgery or medication, though it's too early to have much data on this.
How can I prevent a second ectopic pregnancy?Prevention. There's no way to prevent an ectopic pregnancy, but here are some ways to decrease your risk: Limiting the number of sexual partners and using a condom during sex helps to prevent sexually transmitted infections and may reduce the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Is it hard to get pregnant again after an ectopic pregnancy?Most women who experience ectopic pregnancy and treatment will achieve a successful pregnancy in the future, even if they've lost one fallopian tube as part of the therapy. There is a 10% risk of recurrence, which is why it's important to work with your health care team when planning for a future pregnancy.
|