Can an ectopic pregnancy affect a woman's fertility?
An ectopic pregnancy refers to the situation where a fertilized egg encounters problems during its migration and does not reach the uterus. Instead, it stays in another place and settles down there. Such a fertilized egg cannot develop into a normal fetus and is more like a time bomb that triggers danger. Therefore, women should be highly vigilant about this condition. If symptoms such as missed periods, abdominal pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding occur, one should immediately go to the hospital for examination and confirmation. Timely rescue measures should be taken to reduce or prevent intra-abdominal bleeding and avoid serious consequences due to excessive bleeding.
So, can an ectopic pregnancy affect a woman's fertility?
Gynecological experts explain: When a fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterine cavity, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. Depending on the location of implantation, there are different types such as tubal pregnancy, abdominal pregnancy, and cervical pregnancy. The most common type of ectopic pregnancy is tubal pregnancy. Generally, surgical treatment is required, which involves removing the affected fallopian tube. There are two fallopian tubes, left and right. If one side is removed and the other side remains healthy, it will still maintain normal physiological functions without affecting fertility. However, sometimes a person may suffer from two ectopic pregnancies and lose both fallopian tubes, completely losing their ability to conceive.
So, what should be done for an ectopic pregnancy?
Experts explain: A new method for treating ectopic pregnancy is chemotherapy, which causes the embryo to die and be absorbed while preserving the fallopian tube. This applies to early-stage ectopic pregnancy patients who have not experienced rupture. After being cured, these patients generally do not experience any impact on their fertility (except for those whose fallopian tubes on both sides have been removed after surgery). For women whose fallopian tubes have ruptured or have been removed on both sides after surgery, they can undergo in vitro fertilization and obtain their own child through IVF. However, this requires having normal ovaries and sufficient financial resources.
Experts remind: Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy once have a higher probability of experiencing it again. Those who retain their fallopian tubes during ectopic pregnancy treatment have a higher proportion of recurring ectopic pregnancies. Repeated ectopic pregnancies also often occur in the opposite fallopian tube, suggesting that there may be a potential functional disorder in both fallopian tubes. Therefore, women who have previously had an ectopic pregnancy should undergo B-ultrasound examinations at regular hospitals during the early stages of pregnancy to exclude the possibility of another ectopic pregnancy, allowing for timely handling to preserve the fallopian tubes.
This article is excerpted from the official website of Changchun Gynecology Hospital. Original address: http://www.tjfk999.com/gongjingxingbuyun/201105042377.html. To learn more about gynecological diseases, please visit the official website of Changchun Gynecology Hospital.