Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy in which an embryo implants outside the uterine cavity, most often in a fallopian tube. It cannot develop into a viable birth and can cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

Fallopian tube: A muscular duct that carries an egg from an ovary toward the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies implant here, where expansion can rupture the tube.
Pregnancy of unknown location: A positive pregnancy test with no pregnancy visible in or outside the uterus on initial ultrasound. This temporary classification guides follow-up until the pregnancy's location or outcome is established.
Hemorrhagic shock: A life-threatening state in which severe blood loss prevents adequate circulation to organs. Bleeding from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy can cause shock.
Fertilization: The fusion of a sperm cell and an egg cell to form a zygote. Ectopic pregnancy begins after fertilization, before the embryo reaches the uterus.
Tubal rupture: A tear in a fallopian tube that can cause bleeding into the abdomen. An enlarging tubal pregnancy can rupture the tube and trigger a medical emergency.
Expectant management: Care that monitors a condition without immediate medication or surgery. Some stable, resolving ectopic pregnancies can be monitored with repeated hormone tests.
Infertility: The inability to achieve pregnancy after a period of regular unprotected intercourse. Underlying tubal damage or surgery can affect later fertility, though many people conceive again.
Implantation: The attachment and embedding of an early embryo in the uterine lining or another tissue. The pregnancy is ectopic because implantation occurs outside the uterine cavity.
Human chorionic gonadotropin: A hormone produced by developing placental tissue and measured in pregnancy tests. Serial hormone measurements help assess whether a pregnancy is developing normally.
Laparoscopy: Surgery performed through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments. It allows surgeons to inspect and treat many ectopic pregnancies.

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