Conservative Treatment Methods for Ectopic Pregnancy

Feb 11, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I recently had a checkup and found out I'm pregnant, but it's an ectopic pregnancy. I don't want surgery, and my doctor mentioned that conservative treatment is also an option. I would like to know more about ectopic pregnancy and how conservative treatment is carried out.

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu

Ectopic pregnancy, medically known as extrauterine pregnancy, refers to the implantation and development of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity. A common location for this is the fallopian tube. Conservative treatment is a non-surgical approach that utilizes non-invasive methods, such as medication or watchful waiting, to minimize physical trauma to the patient and preserve fertility as much as possible.

The main method of conservative treatment involves the use of chemical medications, such as methotrexate, which can inhibit embryonic growth and promote the absorption and disappearance of embryonic tissue. During treatment, the physician will closely monitor the patient's human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels and clinical symptoms to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

For ectopic pregnancies with no symptoms or only mild symptoms—especially tubal pregnancies—watchful waiting may be an option. Under a physician's supervision, regular checkups are used to monitor the progression of the ectopic pregnancy. If the ectopic pregnancy resolves naturally, the risks associated with surgical treatment can be avoided.

It is important to note that not all patients with ectopic pregnancies are suitable candidates for conservative treatment. Specific treatment plans should be developed by qualified physicians based on each patient's individual circumstances.