Thread by @DrAtangwho

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: What You Need to Know

A pregnancy is ectopic when the embryo fails to attach inside the womb. It can cause life-threatening complications.

But you can save a life by helping educate women on your timeline with this.

A thread 🧵

The bulk of ectopic pregnancies occur in or along the Fallopian tubes.

Some occur elsewhere in the ovaries, cervix or even in some random location inside the abdomen.

The common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are;

* abdominal pain
* vaginal bleeding, &
* missing your period

Other pregnancy symptoms like breast fullness & occasional nausea may be there too.

But the common danger signs of ectopic pregnancy which may signify rupture are;

🔻 rigid abdomen
🔻 severe abdominal pain
🔻 shoulder tip pain, &
🔻 signs of shock such as cold hands & feet

With these signs, immediately medical attended is needed to save the woman's life.

Your chances of having ectopic pregnancy are higher if you have;

1. Previous ectopic pregnancy
2. STI's like gonorrhea
3. Fertility treatments like IVF
4. Fallopian tube surgeries
5. Pregnancy while using an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device
6. Smoking history 🚭

Your doctor may choose to confirm your ectopic pregnancy using;
- HCG blood test
- ultrasound scan, or
- laparoscopy (an operation on your abdomen).

Depending on some factors, your doctor may choose to treat it using;
- expectant measures
- methotrexate, or
- surgery

To Prevent Ectopic Pregnancy!!

1. Limit your sexual partners & use condoms. This can help prevent STI's & reduce pelvic inflammatory disease.

2. Don't smoke. If you do, quit before you try to get pregnant.

Although you can't really prevent this problem, doing these can help.

In the human body, a fertilised egg can't survive outside the uterus. If it's allowed to grow, it may damage nearby organs & cause life-threatening blood loss.

So it's critical every woman knows how to identify this problem so they can report early & for lifesaving intervention.

@trending_medic @RealDreylo @wakawaka_doctor @DrZobo @iamvictor__ @healthertainer @aproko_doctor @DoctorEmto @drpenking @KelvinOssai @TWEETORACLE @SomtoSocial

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Typo: *immediate medical attention...