Extrauterine Pregnancy: Pregnancy Outside the Uterus

At ovulation, a female egg leaves its protected place in the ovary and travels through the fallopian tube. If it encounters sperm during its journey, fusion can occur. The fertilized egg usually continues to travel for a few more days and then nests in its intended location, the uterus. In 1 to 2 out of every 100 pregnancies, the fertilized egg does not settle in the uterus (womb), but in another location. Technically, this is called extrauterine pregnancy (EUG) or ectop(ish) pregnancy.

Extrauterine pregnancy: what are the different forms?

Depending on the place of implantation, the fear survives only a short time or even a little longer – but almost always the embryo dies, because it not only has too little space, but also can not be adequately supplied with nutrients outside the uterus, which is best equipped for this purpose.

The following types of extrauterine pregnancy are distinguished:

  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Ovarian pregnancy
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Cervical pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy (tubal pregnancy): what is it?

Tubal pregnancy is by far the most common form (99 percent of cases). After fertilization, the egg already divides several times, so it grows into a spherical collection of cells (morula). If the fallopian tube is now altered, for example – possibly as a result of a preceding inflammation – the fruit can only migrate slowly and reaches its implantation stage before it has reached the uterus.

Ovarian pregnancy (ovarian gravidity).

Implantation in or on the ovary is very rare – it is estimated to occur in 1 in 40,000 pregnancies. Ovarian pregnancy is usually manifested by severe abdominal pain (about two weeks after the absence of menstrual bleeding), but – extremely rarely – it can sometimes proceed like a normal pregnancy.

Abdominal pregnancy (abdominal gravidity).

Because the ovary and fallopian tube are not firmly connected, the fertilized egg can also enter the abdominal cavity and settle on the peritoneum. Since it initially has room to grow here, it is not uncommon for such an abdominal pregnancy to go unnoticed for several weeks or for atypical symptoms to occur.

Cervical pregnancy (cervical gravidity).

In cervical pregnancy, the egg does not nest in the intended location but in the narrow neck of the uterus. This “deep implantation” is also very rare.