Ectopic pregnancy – an overview

Abstract

Pregnancy is the state of carrying a baby by a female. It is known to occur within the gestational sac of the uterus. Apart from the gestational sac, pregnancy can occur even in other locations inside the body such as the fallopian tubes, ovary, fimbriae, abdomen etc. Pregnancy occurring in any location within the body apart from the gestational sac is termed as ectopic pregnancy. It is a rare condition where the persistence and further development of fetus is rarely possible. Ectopic pregnancy is found to be the most common cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the first trimester of pregnancy. Associated with various risk factors, it shows abdominal pain, amenorrhea and vaginal bleeding as major symptoms. It becomes a challenge for the doctors to diagnose it in time and manage it. By far, much diagnostic approaches and treatment options have not been developed. However, the life of the pregnant woman and her chances of acquiring another pregnancy in a healthy way can be preserved.