What are the consequences of ectopic pregnancy?

Being pregnant for 10 months is quite tiring, and once an ectopic pregnancy occurs, it is heartbreaking for the expectant mother. Ectopic pregnancy is a disease that is particularly harmful. It can easily cause bleeding in the abdominal cavity, lead to fainting or shock, incomplete miscarriage, fallopian tube rupture, etc., and even induce infertility. In severe cases, it can endanger women's health.

1. Syncope and shock

Due to acute bleeding in the abdominal cavity, the amount of blood in the circulatory system decreases rapidly, coupled with severe abdominal pain. Mild cases may cause fainting, while severe cases may become pale, have cold and clammy limbs, a fast and weak pulse, and a drop in blood pressure. This is medically called shock.

2. Abortion

Complete abortion causes less bleeding, but in incomplete abortion, some villi remain in the fallopian tube. The trophoblastic cells can continue to invade the fallopian tube wall for a period of time, causing repeated bleeding. Because the contraction force of the fallopian tube muscle layer is poor, it cannot close the open blood vessels, resulting in more bleeding.

3. Another ectopic pregnancy

According to surveys, among women who have had ectopic pregnancy, 10% to 15% will have another ectopic pregnancy, and 50% may become infertile. This means that after one fallopian tube is removed due to ectopic pregnancy, there is still a possibility of ectopic pregnancy occurring again in the contralateral fallopian tube. Therefore, if a woman with a history of ectopic pregnancy becomes pregnant again, she should have an ultrasound examination 50 days after pregnancy. Based on the position of the gestational sac and fetal heartbeat, she can determine whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy, so as to eliminate hidden dangers early.

4. Rupture

The villi of the fertilized egg erode the muscular layer and serosa of the tube wall, causing the fallopian tube to rupture. It can damage small arteries and cause acute bleeding. In this case, the body's own coagulation mechanism can no longer complete the task of stopping bleeding. If not diagnosed and treated in time, the patient will suffer from hemorrhagic shock and even death. Therefore, once an ectopic pregnancy is discovered, you should go to the hospital's gynecology department for treatment immediately.

5. Uterine pregnancy leads to infertility

Ectopic pregnancy can cause infertility, but for most women, infertility is not caused directly, but indirectly. For example, blockage of the fallopian tubes can cause ectopic pregnancy in women, making them infertile. If this continues for a long time, it can cause menstrual disorders in women.

6. Life-threatening

About 1/3 of patients with ectopic pregnancy are in a state of pre-shock or shock when they are admitted to the hospital. The severity of the shock depends on the amount of internal bleeding and the rate of blood loss, which is not proportional to the amount of vaginal bleeding. Once ruptured, massive intra-abdominal bleeding will occur in a very short period of time, and without prompt rescue, it will be life-threatening.