Treatment and Prevention
If an ectopic pregnancy occurs, the doctor must remove the fetus and placenta
from the fallopian tube or other area where it has become implanted. This
may be done by using the medication methotrexate or laparoscopic surgery.
The medication methotrexate is used to treat early tubal pregnancies in cases
where the ectopic pregnancy is believed to be at a low risk of rupturing. It
causes the pregnancy to break down and be reabsorbed.
Laparoscopic surgery is also used as a treatment option for ectopic pregnancy
if the woman's health is unstable, if there are reasons not to use methotrexate,
or in cases of non-tubal ectopic pregnancies, later-term tubal pregnancies,
or tubal pregnancies where there is a significant risk of rupture. In this procedure,
the doctor inserts a thin tube into the abdominal cavity. The tube has a camera
and surgical instruments attached to it.
If the pregnancy is in the fallopian tube, the tube is cut and left to heal
naturally, so that scar tissue from the wound doesn't block the fallopian
tube. A blocked fallopian tube can make it difficult for a woman to have another
baby. In some uncommon cases, the fallopian tube must be removed because it's
been severely damaged as a result of the ectopic pregnancy. A woman with only
one fallopian tube can still become pregnant. If there has been severe bleeding,
a blood transfusion may be needed.
While it is not possible to prevent all forms of ectopic pregnancy, there are
a few things you can do to reduce your risk of a tubal ectopic pregnancy (an
ectopic pregnancy occurring in the fallopian tube), which is the most common
type of ectopic pregnancy. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) are frequent causes of tubal ectopic pregnancies.
Both are preventable. Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of
STDs and PID, such as using condoms and quickly seeking treatment for any infections
of the genitals, abdomen, or bladder areas.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.