An Ectopic pregnancy sounds almost like something supernatural (think ectoplasm and “ghost busters”), but it’s not.  An Ectopic pregnancy is one which takes place when the fertilized egg becomes attached in place other than within the woman’s uterus.

Nearly all Ectopic pregnancies take place in a fallopian tube. They are therefore sometimes referred to as tubal pregnancies.

A woman’s fallopian tubes aren’t designed to contain a growing embryo. Because of this, the fertilized egg in an Ectopic pregnancy can’t develop correctly and it must be treated. About one out of every 60 pregnancies is an Ectopic pregnancy.

So just what causes an Ectopic pregnancy? Put simply, it’s caused by any one or more of these: an inflammation or infection of the fallopian tube (causing it to become entirely or partially blocked); scar tissue which is left behind by a previous infection; an operation on the tube impeding the egg’s movement; previous pelvic-area surgery that causes adhesions; an abnormal tube shape caused by a birth defect.

Several characteristics make a woman more at risk of having an Ectopic pregnancy than others. These risk factors include: being 33 to 44 years old, having had a prior Ectopic pregnancy, having had abdominal or pelvic surgery, having had PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease), having had multiple induced abortions, or getting pregnant following a tubal ligation.

The typical symptoms for an Ectopic pregnancy, which will help you recognize the fact that you might be in one, include a stabbing or sharp pain that comes and goes and that varies in intensity.

This pain could be in the abdomen, pelvis or even in the neck and shoulder (because of blood gathering under your diaphragm).  Other symptoms are vaginal bleeding, gastrointestinal abnormalities, dizziness,, weakness or fainting. I you experience bleeding or sharp pain during your pregnancy you must seek immediate emergency care.

An Ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed by a doctor who probably first performs a pelvic exam to locate the tenderness, pain or mass within the abdomen.  Your doctor will also use ultrasound to decide if the uterus contains a fetus which is properly developing.

In diagnosing an Ectopic pregnancy, a measurement of hCG levels is important. If the level is lower than that normally expected, it frequently indicates an Ectopic pregnancy.  A low level of progesterone could also mean that the woman’s pregnancy is abnormal.

In some cases, your doctor might do a culdocentesis, a procedure involving the insertion a needle into the spot at the vagina’s very top, right in front of the rectum and behind the uterus.  If he finds blood here, it could indicate that a ruptured fallopian tube is bleeding.

If you are found to have an Ectopic pregnancy, there are a few ways to treat it. The medical team might give you Methotrexate, which will let the body absorb pregnancy tissue and save your fallopian tube.

If the tube has become too stretched to be saved or it has already ruptured and begun bleeding, part or all of the tube might need to be removed. The bleeding must be stopped immediately, and emergency surgery will be required.

Laparoscopic surgery, which is done under general anesthesia, might be conducted. In this procedure, the doctor uses a laparoscope to extract the Ectopic pregnancy and remove or repair the affected fallopian tube.

If the doctor cannot remove the Ectopic pregnancy through laparoscope procedure, then he might do a laparotomy instead.