Prevention

An ectopic pregnancy cannot be avoided but certain risk factors can be reduced. For example, safe sex can reduce the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease, thereby lowering the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Medical treatments

A ectopic pregnancy cannot be completed. It is therefore necessary to proceed with the removal of the fertilized egg if it is not done spontaneously.

When the ectopic pregnancy is identified early, an injection of Methotrexate (MTX) is used to stop the growth of embryonic cells and destroy existing cells.

This drug does not decrease fertility. On the other hand, it is better to wait at least 2 cycles normal periods before attempting another pregnancy. Having a first ectopic pregnancy carries a risk of having a second, but this risk is not associated with methotrexate.

Surgical treatments

In the majority of cases, the laparoscopy removes the poorly implanted egg in the fallopian tube. A thin tube with a camera is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen. The egg and blood are sucked in this way.

In some cases, other surgical practices are employed:

• La linear salpongostomy consists of severing the proboscis partially lengthwise in order to remove the poorly implanted egg.
• La salpingectomy involves removing an entire fallopian tube.
• La tubal cauterization involves electrically burning a portion or all of the proboscis to destroy the products of conception as well as the proboscis itself. The proboscis then becomes non-functional.
• When the fallopian tube has ruptured, a laparotomy (abdominal incision) may be necessary and most of the time the tube will need to be removed.