women s health issues
Ectopic Pregnancy
Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy
Usually, a medication (methotrexate) for small, unruptured ectopic pregnancies Sometimes, surgery An ectopic pregnancy must be treated as soon as possible to save the life of the pregnant woman. Small ectopic pregnancies that have not ruptured may be treated with one dose of the medicationmethotrexate, given by injection.Methotrexatecauses the ectopic pregnancy to shrink and disappear. Aftermethotrexateis given, doctors do blood tests to measure hCG levels every few days or once a week to determine whether treatment was successful. If hCG cannot be detected, treatment is considered successful. If one dose ofmethotrexatewas unsuccessful, a second dose ofmethotrexateor surgery is needed. The ectopic pregnancy is removed surgically if doctors suspect the ectopic pregnancy has ruptured or if treatment withmethotrexatecannot be given—for example, if the ectopic pregnancy is large or if a woman has abnormal blood test results for kidney or liver function. If a woman is treated with surgery, doctors usually insert a viewing tube ( Laparoscopy ) into the abdominal cavity through a small incision just below the navel and use instruments threaded through the laparoscope to remove the ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, doctors have to make a larger incision in the abdomen (laparotomy). During surgery for a tubal ectopic pregnancy, doctors remove the ectopic pregnancy by making an incision in the fallopian tube. Often, making an incision in the tube is all that is needed and the tube heals normally. Sometimes all or part of the tube may be removed, depending on how severely the tube is damaged and the woman's plans for future pregnancies. The entire fallopian tube may be removed if the woman requests tubal sterilization (both tubes would need surgery) or if the tube is abnormal and she is planning in vitro fertilization for a future pregnancy. or require surgery, are given Prevention to prevent 