uterus
Development of the Embryo In the vast majority of ectopic pregnancies, the embryo does not complete its journey to the uterus and implants in the uterine tube, referred to as a tubal pregnancy. However, there are also ovarian ectopic pregnancies in which the egg never left the ovary and abdominal ectopic pregnancies in which an egg was lost to the abdominal cavity during the transfer from ovary to uterine tube, or in which an embryo from a tubal pregnancy re-implanted in the abdomen . Once in the abdominal cavity, an embryo can implant into any well-vascularized structurethe rectouterine cavity Douglas pouch , the mesentery of the intestines, and the greater omentum are some common sites. Tubal pregnancies can be caused by scar tissue within the tube following a sexually transmitted bacterial infection. The scar tissue impedes the progress of the embryo into the uterusin some cases snagging the embryo and, in other cases, blocking the tube completely. Approximately one half of tubal pregnancies resolve spontaneously. Implantation in a uterine tube causes bleeding, which appears to stimulate smooth muscle contractions and expulsion of the embryo. In the remaining cases, medical or surgical intervention is necessary. If an ectopic pregnancy is detected early, the embryos development can be arrested by the administration of the cytotoxic drug methotrexate, which inhibits the metabolism of folic acid. If diagnosis is late and the uterine tube is already ruptured, surgical repair is essential. Even if the embryo has successfully found its way to the uterus, it does not always implant in an optimal location the fundus or the posterior wall of the uterus . Placenta previa can result if an embryo implants close to the internal os of the uterus the internal opening of the cervix . As the fetus grows, the placenta can partially or completely cover the opening of the cervix Figure 28.7 . Although it occurs in only 0.5 percent of pregnancies, placenta previa is the leading cause of antepartum hemorrhage profuse vaginal bleeding after week 24 of pregnancy but prior to childbirth .