Running head: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ECTOPIC PREGNANCY 1

Pathophysiology of Ectopic Pregnancy

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Pathophysiology of Ectopic Pregnancy

When women reach the childbearing age, many get pregnant, aiming at continuing life

and promote generation succession. However, there is no guarantee that pregnancy will take

place as expected. In this case, ectopic pregnancy usually occurs, putting the life of the mother

and fetus at risk. Many studies have examined this issue in-depth as they explain how women are

affected, risk factors, and how to intervene to prevent future occurrence of the same problem.

Ectopic pregnancy is among health problems facing women of the childbearing age.

According to Moini, Hosseini, Jahangiri, Shiva, and Akhoond (2014), about 1-2% of all reported

pregnancies that are ectopic. If not treated timely, ectopic pregnancy (EP) can be fatal. Therefore,

it is recommended to have frequent checks upon getting pregnancy. For a better understanding of

the problem, it is vital to highlight some of the risk factors. Most have to do with conditions or

procedures that cause tubal damage. In the case of previous pelvic surgery, a woman is likely to

develop an EP. Other risk factors include induction of ovulation, inflammatory diseases, and

induction of ovulation (Abdulkareem & Eidan, 2017). As a result, it is crucial to be wary of these

factors to ensure safe conception and deliveries.

Normal Anatomy

Under normal conditions, pregnancy is supposed to occur in the uterus. Here, after the

sperm meeting up with an egg, the fertilized egg gets implanted in the lining of the uterus

(Wolter, 2013). After that, the growth process then starts, and it usually affects common

procedures such as the menstrual cycle that stops. In the uterus, the fertilized egg continues to

replicate in the form of more cells, which help to form different body parts of the fetus.

Implantation initiates a pregnancy, which usually proceeds in the uterus unless a woman gets an

abnormality.
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Normal Physiology

Pregnancy occurs through a link between different body parts. The fallopian tube, the

cervix, and ovary play a critical role as well. Therefore, they should be healthy and functioning

normally to prevent the occurrence of an EP. Ovaries produce productive hormones besides

releasing the egg each month. If a woman does not have any health defects, fertility issues, or

tubal infection, these three body parts work in unison to ensure that pregnancy takes place as

expected. At all times, it is vital to ensure that the fertilized egg grows in the proper place.

Mechanism of Ectopic Pregnancy

In most cases, blockage (partial or entire) of the fallopian tube is known to cause an EPas

a result of infection or inflammation. Other causes include congenital disabilities, previous

surgeries, or scar tissue. As Moini et al. (2014) further suggest, the development of an EP can be

confusing since its signs are like those of a healthy pregnancy at the initial stages. Over time,

however, pelvic pains and vaginal bleeding may be experienced. At this point, diagnosis is

crucial and can be done through a pregnancy test, ultrasound, and blood tests.

Regarding the common types of ectopic pregnancy, it is the three primary parts involved

in pregnancy that act as common sites for an EP. As Abdulkareem and Eidan (2017) outline, the

fallopian tube is the usual site with about 75-80% of tubal EP occurring in the ampullary portion.

Cervical EP can occur, although it is rare. Here, implantation of the blastocyst takes place in the

endocervix. Ovarian EP is the rarest among the three variants, and it stems from the increased

use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Prevention

As it stands, it is somewhat challenging for women to prevent EP. However, they can

avoid complications; thus, early diagnosis and treatment are critical. As Abdulkareem and Eidan
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(2017) suggest, women should reduce their risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections

(STIs). Such infections increase a woman’s risk of developing an EP. Above all, close monitoring

of pregnancy is essential in the initial stages of pregnancy.

Treatment

Treatment of EPs falls into three primary categories. The first is medication, which helps

to prevent the ectopic mass from bursting. Methotrexate is usually taken to avoid rapid cell

division. According to Abdulkareem and Eidan (2017), surgery can be preferred to remove the

embryo risking life and to repair internal damage. The third process is through home-based care.

Home care aims to ensure that a mother’s incisions remain clean and dry to allow them to heal.

Clinical Relevance

Due to the severity of an ectopic pregnancy, it should be among the health challenges that

deserve more attention than it happens today. Women should be helped to identify the possibility

of an EP early through health education. Since losing a child is devastating, it is vital to make

mental health for women a critical part of the health care process. These clinical implications

will improve the current situation as far as the handling of women during pregnancy is

concerned.

Conclusion

Ectopic pregnancies will continue risking the lives of women if not identified as early as

possible. As highlighted above, its risk factors vary and include inflammation, the use of IUDs,

and the induction of ovulation. Death is a likely outcome if the mother does not get deserved

help. Regarding that, early diagnosis of EPs is vital, and frequent checkups should be a priority

in the initial stages of pregnancy. This intervention will help to identify any problem before it

becomes severe.
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References

Abdulkareem, T. A., & Eidan, S. M. (2017). Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Prevention and

Management. In Obstetrics. IntechOpen. Retrieved from

https://www.intechopen.com/books/obstetrics/ectopic-pregnancy-diagnosis-prevention-

and-management

Moini, A., Hosseini, R., Jahangiri, N., Shiva, M., & Akhoond, M. R. (2014). Risk factors for

ectopic pregnancy: A case-control study. Journal of research in medical sciences : the

official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 19(9), 844–849. Retrieved

from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4268192/

Wolter, J. M. (2013). The Process of Implantation of Embryos in Primates. Embryo Project

Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/process-implantation-

embryos-primates