🩺 Ectopic Pregnancy – When Pregnancy Turns into an Emergency
Pregnancy is usually a journey of hope. But sometimes, instead of implanting in the uterus, the embryo grows in the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside the womb. This is called an Ectopic Pregnancy, and it is a condition that cannot continue — it threatens the mother’s life.
⚠️ Why it matters:
If undetected, the tube can rupture, causing massive internal bleeding within minutes. It’s one of the leading causes of maternal death in early pregnancy.
💡 Facts to Remember:
Affects 1–2% of pregnancies worldwide.
Risk factors: prior pelvic infections, tubal surgeries, IVF or fertility treatment, smoking, or a history of ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms: sharp or one-sided abdominal pain, shoulder tip pain, vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting.
Diagnosis: blood test for pregnancy hormone + transvaginal ultrasound.
⚕️ Treatment depends on timing:
Early detection: sometimes can be managed with medication (Methotrexate) or a conservative surgery that preserves the tube.
Late detection: usually means the tube has already ruptured, leading to internal bleeding. In such emergencies, the only life-saving option is surgery, often removing the affected tube completely.
🌸 The Human Side:
As doctors, we see the heartbreak in women’s eyes when we explain that this pregnancy cannot survive. The pain is not only physical, but deeply emotional — the loss of a much-awaited baby, and the fear for one’s own life.
Yet, when diagnosed early, women recover well and often go on to have healthy future pregnancies. That’s the message of hope we must never forget.
🙏 My message to women in Lusaka and across Zambia:
If you are pregnant and experience unusual abdominal pain or bleeding — please don’t wait. Visit a hospital immediately. Awareness and early action can save your life.
#DrRababCares
#EctopicPregnancy #WomensHealth #Gynecology #ForestParkHospital #AwarenessSavesLives
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