Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffA fertilized egg can't develop normally outside the uterus. To prevent life-threatening complications, the ectopic tissue must be removed.
If the ectopic pregnancy is detected early, an injection of the drug methotrexate is sometimes used to stop cell growth and dissolve existing cells. After the injection, your doctor will monitor your blood for the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). If the HCG level remains high, you might need another injection of methotrexate.
In other cases, ectopic pregnancy is treated with laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, a small incision is made in the abdomen, near or in the navel. Then your doctor uses a thin tube equipped with a camera lens and light (laparoscope) to view the area. Other instruments can be inserted into the tube or through other small incisions to remove the ectopic tissue and repair the fallopian tube. If the fallopian tube is significantly damaged, it might need to be removed.
If the ectopic pregnancy is causing heavy bleeding or the fallopian tube has ruptured, you might need emergency surgery through an abdominal incision (laparotomy). In some cases, the fallopian tube can be repaired. Typically, however, a ruptured tube must be removed.
In a few cases, an injection of methotrexate is needed after surgery.
- Tulandi T. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of ectopic pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Tulandi T. Incidence, risk factors, and pathology of ectopic pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Tulandi T. Surgical treatment of ectopic pregnancy and prognosis for subsequent fertility. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Tulandi T. Methotrexate treatment of tubal and interstitial ectopic pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Tulandi T. Expectant management of ectopic pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Verma U, et al. Conservative management of nontubal ectopic pregnancies. Fertility and Sterility. 2011;96:1391.
- Lobo RA. Ectopic pregnancy: Etiology, pathology, diagnosis, management, fertility prognosis. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Block SD. Grief and bereavement. http://www.uptodate.com/index.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2011.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 15, 2011.
Find Mayo Clinic on