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Ectopic pregnancy can be tricky to diagnose, probably because women are not informed enough about this problem. If your symptoms suggest this type of pregnancy, your caregiver will do several tests to try to confirm the diagnosis.
The first diagnostic method is a blood test. Blood test will show the level of the pregnancy hormone human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). If it is high enough to suggest pregnancy, but not as high as it should be at your stage, the pregnancy may be ectopic. If you are not in pain and there is still some question about the diagnosis, the test for tubal ectopic pregnancy may be repeated in two to three days. If your hCG level does not increase as it is supposed to, this probably indicates either an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.
Another diagnostic method is an exam of the vaginal area. This area could also indicate an enlarged fallopian tube.
An ultrasound is also commonly performed, so if the sonographer can see an embryo in the fallopian tube, then it is definitely an ectopic pregnancy. But in most cases, the embryo will have died early in the process and be too small for the sonographer. Instead, the fallopian tube will be swollen, and blood clots will be noticed as well as tissue from the embryo. If the diagnosis remains unclear, the tubes may be examined more closely by using laparoscopic surgery. This is a procedure that may also be used to treat a tubal ectopic pregnancy and remove the embryo.
How is tubal ectopic pregnancy treated?
The treatment for tubal ectopic pregnancy depends on how clear the diagnosis is, how big the embryo is, and what techniques are available. If the pregnancy is clearly ectopic and the embryo is still relatively small, your doctor might try Methotrexate. The drug is injected into a muscle and reaches the embryo through your bloodstream, where it ends the pregnancy by stopping the cells of the placenta from growing, and over time, the tiny embryo is reabsorbed into body. As the drug begins to work you may have some abdominal pain or cramps and possibly nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. After this therapy, you will need to avoid alcohol and sex for a while, as well as any multivitamins or supplements that contain folic acid, which can interfere with the action of this drug. After some time, you will need to come back in for blood testing to make sure that the pregnancy has really been terminated, because it does not always work. If Methotrexate cannot help and you are in a stable condition and the embryo is small enough, it can be removed through a procedure called laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery requires general anesthesia, special equipment, and a surgeon experienced in the technique. Afterward, you will need about six weeks to recuperate, and during that time you may feel bloated, and have abdominal pain or discomfort as you heal.