Ectopic Pregnancy

Term Paper # 113346

Medical and Health > Medical Studies

Ectopic Pregnancy

An examination of the prevalence, risks and medical intervention for ectopic pregnancies.

1,017 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the prevalence and risks of ectopic pregnancies. It discusses the detection and diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and the medical treatment that may be required once an ectopic pregnancy is discovered. The paper then looks briefly at the instances of non-tubal pregnancies and provides two documented examples of viable non-tubal pregnancies.

Table of Contents:
Prevalence and Risk Factors
Detection and Diagnosis
Treatment
Non-Tubal Pregnancies

From the Paper:

"Rarely will the fetus of an ectopic pregnancy ever become viable, but a few instances have documented an ectopic pregnancy outside of the fallopian tube going to term and a viable fetus being born (Medical Treatment, 2008). In these situations, the placenta has to be positioned in an area where enough blood supply can support the developing fetus. Usually this is bowel or mesentery tissue, but even renal, liver, and aortic tissue has been documented. However, most all ectopic pregnancies are identified by 16 to 20 weeks gestation, and medical intervention is usually imperative due to the high risks and complications involved with an ectopic pregnancy (Lozeau, 2005). The following are a few examples of ectopic pregnancies producing viable offspring that have been documented in the last year. In April 2008, a British woman had an ectopic pregnancy attached to the large intestine and doctors were able to deliver the baby using laparotomy at 28 weeks gestation. In May 2008, an ectopic pregnancy of the ovary went to full term and doctors delivered a healthy baby using Caesarean section (Medical Treatment, 2008)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Lozeau AM, Potter B. Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. Am Fam Physician. Nov 1 2005;72(9):1707-14.
"Medical Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy." Fertility and Sterility 90.5, Supplement 1 (2008): S206-12.
Murray, Heather, et al. "Diagnosis and Treatment of Ectopic Pregnancy." CMAJ 173.8 (2005): 905-12.