{"id":39665,"date":"2025-06-23T10:08:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T08:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T17:30:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T16:30:52","slug":"what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an ectopic pregnancy and what does it have to do with assisted reproduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There is some terminology in assisted reproduction that is used pretty frequently. At our fertility clinic in Spain we make every effort to clarify all these concepts for our patients, as you can see by looking through our blog. Today we\u2019d like to talk to you about ectopic pregnancies and explain, in detail,\u00a0<strong>what they are and how they affect your fertility<\/strong>\u00a0so that any doubts you may have on this topic are cleared up.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#Whats_an_ectopic_pregnancy\" >What\u2019s an ectopic pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#What_are_the_risk_factors_for_an_ectopic_pregnancy\" >What are the risk factors for an ectopic pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#What_are_the_symptoms_of_an_ectopic_pregnancy\" >What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#How_is_an_ectopic_pregnancy_diagnosed\" >How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#How_is_an_ectopic_pregnancy_treated\" >How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-an-ectopic-pregnancy-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-assisted-reproduction\/#What_are_the_chances_of_conceiving_again_after_an_ectopic_pregnancy\" >What are the chances of conceiving again after an ectopic pregnancy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_an_ectopic_pregnancy\"><\/span>What\u2019s an ectopic pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We use the term ectopic pregnancy\u00a0<strong>when the embryo implants outside of the endometrial cavity of the uterus<\/strong>. The most frequent place implantation will occur is in a fallopian tube, occurring here in approximately 95% of cases. Less frequently implantation will also occur in the cervix, a uterine tube, the peritoneal cavity or in an ovary.<\/p>\n<p>An ectopic pregnancy\u00a0<strong>affects one in every two to three hundred pregnancies<\/strong>, and this figure has risen in recent years. It is believed that the incidence of ectopic pregnancy is linked to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/habits-that-have-a-negative-impact-on-your-fertility-avoid-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">habits that harm fertility<\/a>\u00a0such as smoking, as well as to pelvic inflammatory disease and assisted reproduction treatments such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/artificial-insemination-frequently-asked-questions-about-this-assisted-reproduction-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">artificial insemination<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/in-vitro-fertilisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in vitro fertilisation (IVF)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Years ago this type of pregnancy was one of the top causes of pregnancy-related deaths. Today, however, thanks to current diagnostic techniques (such as the ultrasound and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/beta-hcg-how-interpret-pregnancy-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beta hCG blood test<\/a>),\u00a0<strong>an ectopic pregnancy can be diagnosed much earlier,<\/strong>\u00a0meaning the risk of death as a result of this medical condition is lower.<\/p>\n<p>There is a\u00a0<strong>very rare medical condition called heterotopic pregnancy<\/strong>\u00a0which is the simultaneous implantation of one embryo in the uterine cavity and another outside of the uterine cavity. The incidence is two in every ten thousand pregnancies.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_risk_factors_for_an_ectopic_pregnancy\"><\/span>What are the risk factors for an ectopic pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>We can talk about\u00a0<strong>certain situations that seem to favour the occurrence\u00a0<\/strong>of an ectopic pregnancy. Some examples would be:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>History of pelvic inflammatory disease.<\/li>\n<li>History of a sexually transmitted disease.<\/li>\n<li>History of pelvic or abdominal surgeries such as a tubal ligation or an appendectomy.<\/li>\n<li>A previous ectopic pregnancy.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/endometriosis-and-fertility-everything-you-need-to-know-if-you-want-to-become-a-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Endometriosis<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Uterine fibroids.<\/li>\n<li>Having an intrauterine device (IUD) implanted.<\/li>\n<li>Being a smoker: there are studies indicating that the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is twice as high in women who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day.<\/li>\n<li>In Vitro Fertilisation treatment. It is believed that the increase in size of the ovaries (which could distort the normal anatomy of the fallopian tubes), and hormone levels could lead to a higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_symptoms_of_an_ectopic_pregnancy\"><\/span>What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>During an ectopic pregnancy, early symptoms are the same as those of a normal pregnancy such as nausea, frequent urination, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, etc. However, as the pregnancy progresses and becomes more complicated there are\u00a0<strong>more specific symptoms that raise red flags<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Intense abdominal pain.<\/li>\n<li>Vaginal bleeding.<\/li>\n<li>Weakness and light-headedness.<\/li>\n<li>Shoulder pain.<\/li>\n<li>Rectal pressure.<\/li>\n<li>Low blood pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_an_ectopic_pregnancy_diagnosed\"><\/span>How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When the pregnancy is between four and five weeks along (counting from the last menstruation), or when the Beta hCG in a blood sample is higher than 800-1,000 mUI\/ml, the gestational sac should be able to be seen\u00a0<strong>during a vaginal ultrasound<\/strong>. If no gestational sac is observed, we should suspect that the pregnancy is ectopic.<\/p>\n<p>The protocol in these cases is to\u00a0<strong>perform another ultrasound and Beta hCG analysis after 48 hours<\/strong>\u00a0to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. In many instances the gestational sac can be visualised outside of the uterus, though confirming its presence through an ultrasound scan is not always necessary for the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A laparoscopy is another tool\u00a0<\/strong>used to diagnose this medical condition. At present, however, early ultrasound scans and consecutive Beta hCG analyses have reduced the need for laparoscopies as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_an_ectopic_pregnancy_treated\"><\/span>How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Treatment will always depend on the patient\u2019s status as well as how early the diagnosis was made. There are\u00a0<strong>three possibilities<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Expectant management (watchful waiting)<\/strong>. This option involves observing the pregnancy and waiting for it to resolve on its own, which happens in up to 70% of cases. For this option the patient\u2019s condition will need to be stable and asymptomatic, and regular ultrasound scans and blood work will need to be performed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medical treatment<\/strong>. This option involves intramuscular administration of methotrexate, an antineoplastic drug that causes the pregnancy to stop developing. This treatment can be used in stable, asymptomatic patients with Beta hCG levels under 5,000 mUI\/ml, absence of blood in the abdomen and gestational measurements under 3.5 cm on the ultrasound scan.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Surgical management<\/strong>. Surgical intervention is generally performed via laparoscopy and can range from a salpingostomy (opening of the fallopian tube and removal of contents), or salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tube), fallopian tube drainage, etc. The technique chosen will depend on the status\/condition of the affected fallopian tube. A surgical intervention is also the treatment of choice for other types\/locations of ectopic pregnancies such as peritoneal\/abdominal, cornual, ovarian and cervical.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_chances_of_conceiving_again_after_an_ectopic_pregnancy\"><\/span>What are the chances of conceiving again after an ectopic pregnancy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is important to remember that there is a\u00a0<strong>risk of recurrence\u00a0<\/strong>with ectopic pregnancies. This means that this medical condition will occur again in about 20 to 40% of cases depending on the treatment employed and the clinical conditions of each patient.<\/p>\n<p>Have we answered all your questions about ectopic pregnancy? Remember that at URE Centro Gutenberg we\u2019re here to help you.\u00a0<strong>If you think you might be suffering from this condition\u00a0<\/strong>or want more information,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact us!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is some terminology in assisted reproduction that is used pretty frequently. At our fertility clinic in Spain we make every effort to clarify all these concepts for our patients, as you can see by looking through our blog. Today we\u2019d like to talk to you about ectopic pregnancies and explain, in detail,\u00a0what they are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[497],"tags":[529,690,518,507,508,503,541,514,509,510,506,526,535,516],"class_list":["post-39665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fertility-problems","tag-causes-of-infertility","tag-ectopic-pregnancy","tag-fertility-clinic","tag-fertility-clinic-in-algeciras","tag-fertility-clinic-in-malaga","tag-in-vitro-fertilisation","tag-infertility","tag-ivf","tag-ivf-clinic-in-algeciras","tag-ivf-clinic-in-malaga","tag-pregnancy","tag-pregnancy-test-after-in-vitro-fertilisation","tag-reproduction-unit-gutenberg-centre","tag-ure-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39665"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40701,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39665\/revisions\/40701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}