ECTOPIC PREGNANCY

INTRO

Ectopic pregnancy or tubal pregnancy is when a pregnancy grows outside of your uterus, usually
in your fallopian tube, ovary or in the abdomen area. The most serious complication of an ectopic
pregnancy is rupture, leading to intra-abdominal haemorrhage (severe bleeding).

BODY

Pregnancy is defined as the state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female
body. In a normal pregnancy the ovary has to release an egg into the fallopian tube, where it stays for
about 24 hours. There it has to come in contact with a sperm to be fertilized. The fertilized egg stays in
the fallopian tube for 3 or 4 days before it heads to the uterus. There it attaches to the lining and continues
to grow until a baby is born. But if the fertilized egg implants in your fallopian tube or somewhere else in
your abdomen, you end up with what’s called an ectopic pregnancy.

In these cases, the pregnancy can’t continue normally, and it requires emergency treatment. Signs
and symptoms classically include abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy is caused by
an infection or inflammation of the fallopian tube can cause it to become partially or entirely blocked,
scar tissue from a previous infection or a surgical procedure on the tube may also impede the
egg’s movement, previous surgery in the pelvic area or on the tubes can cause adhesions, abnormal
growths or a birth defect can result in an abnormality in the tube’s shape. Risk factors include pelvic
inflammatory disease, infertility, use of an intrauterine device (IUD), previous exposure to DES, tubal
surgery, intrauterine surgery , smoking, previous ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, and tubal ligation. A
previous induced abortion does not appear to increase the risk. Ectopic pregnancy can be classified as:
Tubal pregnancy, non-tubal pregnancy, heterotopic pregnancy, persistent ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy of
unknown location.

Unfortunately, in Ectopic pregnancy cases the best treatment is to remove the fetus before it
grows too large. In the catholic teaching, the removal of the fetus in the fallopian tube is immoral for it is
considered as killing. We all know that the fetus is alive in the fallopian tube but due to its risk, removal
is the best treatment. Ectopic pregnancy is considered as an in direct abortion because a living and
nonviable fetus is removed from the uterus.

Other treatments such as methotrexate which allows the body to absorb the pregnancy tissue and may
save the fallopian tube, depending on how far the pregnancy has progressed, Laparoscopic surgery under
general anaesthesia may be performed. This procedure involves a surgeon using a laparoscope to remove
the ectopic pregnancy and repair or remove the affected fallopian tube. If the ectopic pregnancy cannot be
removed by a laparoscopic ally, another surgical procedure called a laparotomy may be done.

According to the catholic teachings, ectopic pregnancy should be treated with expectant management,
salpingectomy and salpingostomy. Expectant therapy for ectopic pregnancy is perfectly acceptable from a
Catholic perspective. No direct or intended killing of the embryo is involved, and there is no moral
problem unless the mother’s life is put unnecessarily at risk. To avoid such risk, careful monitoring is
needed, which usually involves B-hCG testing and ultrasound imaging. Another treatment accepted by
the catholic teaching is salpingectomy, given that the principle of double effect is applied.
Lastly, salpingostomy is acceptable given that only the embryo will be removed and the fallopian tube
will be left intact.

CONCLUSION

In as much as the sole purpose of the removal of the fetus in the fallopian tube, ovary or abdomen area
and administration of the teratogen methotrexate is to decrease the pain of the mother during pregnancy, it
is still considered as indirect abortion by the Catholic Church, ethicist and religious leaders.

References

http://johnpaulbioethics.org/pdf/FinalProofs.pdf

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/ectopic-pregnancy/

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/ectopic-pregnancy/

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/ectopic-pregnancy