What is an ectopic pregnancy and how can it be treated?
Ectopic pregnancy, also known as tubal pregnancy, develops outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. Due to the restricted area in the fallopian tube, fetal growth cannot occur normally. As a result, the fallopian tube becomes distended. If the rapidly growing pregnancy gets too large, it may burst through the fallopian tube and cause internal bleeding. This is a medical emergency. If not treated promptly, ectopic pregnancy can result in the death of the mother. Once diagnosed, there are both medical and surgical options for treatment of ectopic pregnancy. Regardless of what type of treatment you and your physician choose, some form of treatment must be undertaken promptly. If your ectopic pregnancy meets certain criteria, your physician may recommend treatment with methotrexate. This medicine is normally used to treat cancer and arthritis. When treating an ectopic pregnancy, it is used in doses much lower than those used to treat cancer, and therefore has few side effects. Th
