In a normal pregnancy, the egg is fertilized by the sperm, post which this fertilized egg travels down the fallopian tube and is implanted in the uterine wall. Inside the uterus the egg has the space to divide and grow. However in certain cases instead of the egg reaching the uterus, the fertilized ovum is implanted in some other tissue. This is known as ectopic pregnancy. The word ectopic itself means out of place.

In the majority of the ectopic pregnancy cases the eggs is embedded in the fallopian tubes. This is known as tubal pregnancy. However it may be implanted in any other tissue such as the abdomen, ovaries or the cervix as well. The ectopic pregnancy can be caused by the blockage of the fallopian tubes, damage to the cilia of the tubes, extremely high levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones and the use of intrauterine devices. Pelvic inflammatory diseases, a prior case of tubal pregnancy, advanced age at the time of pregnancy or excessive smoking can pose the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

The initial signs of ectopic pregnancy are the same as normal pregnancy wherein the woman experiences tenderness in the breasts, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other morning sickness symptoms. However as the egg in the fallopian tube or any other organ starts to grow it puts pressure on the tissues, causing it to burst and therefore endanger the life of the pregnant woman.

By 7 to 8 weeks the signs of ectopic pregnancy manifest itself in the form of mild  pain and cramping along with light spotting and vaginal bleeding. The woman may suffer from pelvic cramps along with pain in the lower back and the abdominal region.

If the fallopian tube has ruptured then the pain in the abdomen and the pelvis increases significantly. This will be accompanied with heavy vaginal bleeding, extreme lightheadedness, shock and stabbing pain in the shoulder and neck.

In case you observe any of these signs of ectopic pregnancy, then it is best to seek medical aid as soon as possible. Blood tests to check the hCG levels will help the doctor in diagnosing the problem. In addition to this a vaginal ultrasound can also detect an ectopic pregnancy. While in certain cases non surgical treatments like the administration of drug methotrexate can help resolve the problem, in certain severe cases laparoscopic surgeries may be required to remove the fetus.