Causes Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

The word 'ectopic' means something is in an abnormal position. When used in reference to pregnancy, ectopic means the egg attached somewhere other than the lining of the uterine wall. An ectopic pregnancy is doomed to fail from the beginning as the developing baby has no way to get the nutrients it needs to survive and grow. Additionally, an ectopic pregnancy can cause severe blood loss and damage to the surrounding organs. Ectopic pregnancies usually cause pain in the pelvic area and vaginal bleeding. In many cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.

There are a few different things that can increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy occurring. Get to know them now.

Fallopian Tube Inflammation And Scarring

Fallopian tube inflammation and scarring can increase a woman's risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. When inflamed, the fallopian tubes have less room for an egg to travel through, and the inflammation may totally shut down the tube in severe cases. With nowhere else to go, the fertilized egg will implant into the fallopian tube, leading to an ectopic pregnancy. Fallopian tube scarring can cause the fallopian tubes to become misshapen, altering the path the zygote must take. In some cases, the zygote will be unable to finish the journey to the uterus because of the scarring. The zygote will implant in the fallopian tube, again causing an ectopic pregnancy.

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Genetic Abnormalities

Genetic abnormalities may also play a role in ectopic pregnancy. Some studies have found abnormal numbers of genes play a huge role in the chance of developing an ectopic pregnancy. Other studies show the role of genetics in ectopic pregnancy is not as critical or as strong as others suggest. To gather data, the researchers used techniques like chorionic villus sampling to obtain genetic information. They then analyzed the genome for abnormalities and performed statistical analyses to determine the significance of those abnormalities. In any case, the theory is that an abnormal genome can cause an egg to implant somewhere other than the uterus. Should more studies be done that find genetic abnormality significant, researchers will likely investigate the mechanism behind abnormal genes causing ectopic pregnancy.

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