Understanding cervical pregnancy

By Immaculate Ndinda

While many people are familiar with ectopic pregnancies, not many are familiar with cervical pregnancy, which is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the pregnancy implants in the lining of the endocervical canal.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the uterus walls, most commonly in a fallopian tube, that can’t support the growing embryo thus the pregnancy losing viability.

In a cervical pregnancy, it usually becomes unviable within the first trimester, however, if it is implanted closer to the uterine cavity which now becomes a cervico-isthmic pregnancy, it may continue longer.

The two conditions are life threatening to the mother as the embryo can’t survive to maturity outside the uterus and continuing such a pregnancy is not possible as it becomes a health hazard.

Dr. Bob Achila, a pediatrician, said that since the growing embryo can cause the fallopian tube to rapture which leads to severe internal bleeding, shock and potentially death can happen if not treated promptly.

Women should be extremely cautious and careful to address any issues that occur during the first few months of pregnancy, especially those that cause more discomfort and extreme pain, as he outlines several issues that can lead to this..

“There are several factors that can predispose an individual woman to getting an ectopic pregnancy:

1.If you had a previous ectopic pregnancy there’s some slightly increased risk that the subsequent pregnancy might also be ectopic

2. Infections in the pelvis, commonly pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as previous tubal surgery

 

Achilla further mentioned daily routines as some of the risk factors to getting these two rare pregnancy hazards listing women who smoke to be at the highest risk compared to nonsmokers as it alters the functioning of the fallopian tubes and some forms of contraceptive methods such as the emergency contraceptive pills (P2) being a high contributor. 

Fertility treatments which most women undergo as assisted reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as well contribute to the risks.

With the risks outlined, the practitioner urged women to be on the lookout for vaginal bleeding, pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis and lower back, dizziness or weakness as the major signs of ectopic pregnancy.

Achila adds that in Kenya there’s no accurate data on the exact number of women who have had cervical pregnancies.