Ectopic pregnancy implies the implantation of the pregnancy outside the womb. It can occur in various places like the ovary, the abdomen, the cervix, cornu (the meeting point of the tube and the womb) and most commonly the fallopian tube. Inside the fallopian tube there are small hairs called cilia whose movements help the egg to roll down towards the womb. If the tube is blocked or the cilia are damaged, ectopic pregnancy can take place.

The causes
Ectopic pregnancy can cause due to any of the following factors or due to sheer bad luck. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) can cause infection of the scar tissue adhesion in the tube or can damage the cilia, thus leading to ectopic pregnancy. This can also happen to those women who have undergone tubal surgery like initial sterilization, reversal of sterilization or operation for a prior ectopic. Another major cause can be DES exposure – a drug that was previously used for pregnancy and then got banned. It was seen that the female babies of those mothers who took the drug ran the risk of developing genital abnormalities that can finally lead to ectopic. Another cause can be the previous termination of two or more pregnancies, particularly followed by infection.

Symptoms and cure
If a woman suddenly feels unwell, collapses, is taken to the hospital and is detected with positive pregnancy or during the routine check up of a pregnant lady who had an ectopic earlier, the doctors may diagnose a case of ectopic pregnancy. It can also present itself with a missed period, abdominal pain, positive pregnancy report, irregular vaginal bleeding, fainting and shoulder tip pain.

Tests like the urinary ELISA test or the vaginal ultrasound scan can help to detect the kind of pregnancy. As far as cure is concern the pregnancy cannot be taken from the tube and put into the womb. The plausible option is to remove the pregnancy, which can be done medically by a drug called Methotrexate or by Laparoscopic surgery or open surgery (Laparotomy). Expectant management can also be done where the pregnancy will regress along the tube and get absorbed.

Finally it can be said that ectopic pregnancy, in majority of the cases, is followed by normal pregnancy and the loss has to be overcome by positive thinking and mental strength.