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Ectopic pregnancy
How is an ectopic pregnancy treated?
If symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are confirmed, further examinations are necessary before symptomatic treatment can be administered. Normally, it is essential to first determine the specific status of the ectopic pregnancy, whether there is any rupture, whether the patient's vital signs are stable, and whether there is significant internal bleeding in the abdominal cavity. If the symptoms are not severe and there is no rupture, localized conservative medicinal treatment can be administered. However, if the symptoms are severe, accompanied by hemorrhagic shock or substantial internal bleeding in the abdomen, emergency surgical treatment is required.
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of the fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity. Because it is not in the environment of the uterus, ectopic pregnancies often end in miscarriage or rupture. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy mainly depend on the location of the implantation of the fertilized egg, whether a miscarriage or rupture has occurred, the amount of bleeding, the duration of the bleeding, and whether there is a rupture or miscarriage in a tubal pregnancy. Generally, there are often no specific clinical manifestations in the early stages. If it reaches the middle to late stages, there might be symptoms such as abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. If a tubal pregnancy ruptures, the abdominal pain follows a series of tearing pains, then progresses to generalized abdominal tenderness and rebound pain.
Can you have intercourse with an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy and sexual intercourse often occur when the patient is unaware, specifically during the early stages when there is no bleeding, no abdominal pain, and only amenorrhea is present; intercourse might occur under these circumstances. However, if there is irregular vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain, suspecting an ectopic pregnancy, it is advised not to have intercourse. This is because intercourse can cause excitement, which might lead some ectopic pregnancy masses to rupture, potentially causing severe bleeding.
How much does an ectopic pregnancy cost approximately?
The treatment of ectopic pregnancy is divided into three types: cord treatment and conservative drug treatment, open abdominal surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. For cord treatment, no medication is needed; regular monitoring of ultrasound and HCG levels until they return to normal is sufficient, and generally, this incurs no excessive costs. For conservative drug treatment, the main medications used are mifepristone combined with methotrexate, and it can also be combined with traditional Chinese medicine treatment. These medications are very affordable. For the treatment of ectopic pregnancies, we still recommend hospitalization. The cost of conservative drug treatment is about 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. Of course, depending on the specific conditions of the patient, if multiple treatment courses are needed, the cost may increase, but the increase is relatively small, and it also depends on the individual. Regarding surgical treatment, open abdominal surgery is generally around 8,000 yuan according to the standards of a third-grade A-level city hospital. Laparoscopic surgery, slightly more expensive by about 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, is controlled at around 10,000 yuan. Of course, these are costs according to our own hospital’s standards, and our hospital is also a third-grade A-level city hospital. This is generally the situation.
What are the early signs of ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy is a common term for what is known as a displaced pregnancy; that is, a condition where the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterine cavity. Therefore, ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy are different. In the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, if there is no splitting of the pregnancy sac or bleeding, there generally are no symptoms. However, the condition can be understood and assessed through some auxiliary examinations. For example, after the cessation of menstruation, an ectopic pregnancy might be accompanied by a small amount of vaginal bleeding, and blood tests for HCG might show that the HCG levels do not double as expected. Or, at a certain gestational week, such as six or seven weeks, an ultrasound might not reveal a pregnancy sac. These are all precursors to an ectopic pregnancy, and if these signs appear, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is very high.