Ectopic Pregnancy: Causes of Pregnancy outside the Uterus

An ectopic pregnancy is a generally life threatening problem that is caused when a fertilized egg gets implanted in a region other than the uterus. During a normal pregnancy, it is like that the egg meets the sperm in the tube and the moment it gets fertilized, it moves to the uterus, where its gets attached in the uterine lining. However, in some cases the fallopian tubes become abnormal in structure because of damage and scarring causing the egg to remain in the fallopian tube and resulting in an ectopic pregnancy.

Studies have shown that every one woman out of fifty suffers from ectopic pregnancy. This kind of pregnancy has several risks attached to it. A woman with one earlier case of ectopic pregnancy has a 15 percent greater chance of having it again; a woman who has had it twice has a thirty percent chance. Other factors include smoking, induced abortions in the past, tumors in the fallopian tube etc. Depending upon the development time of the fertilized egg and its correct location, it is possible to remove it with the use of any anti-cancer drug or it can also be removed through a surgery. It is better to take counseling help in such cases.