Patient education: Ectopic pregnancy – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is an ectopic pregnancy? — This is the term doctors use for a pregnancy that forms somewhere other than in the uterus. This most often happens in 1 of the fallopian tubes (figure 1). An ectopic or "tubal" pregnancy is a serious condition and can even be life-threatening.

Doctors can treat an ectopic pregnancy in 2 ways:

●A shot of a medicine called "methotrexate" – This medicine stops the embryo's growth and makes it dissolve.

●Surgery to remove the embryo – The doctor might or might not need to remove your fallopian tube, too.

In a very small number of cases, ectopic pregnancy is not treated right away. Instead, it is monitored to make sure that it goes away on its own. This is not an option in most cases, but your doctor will tell you if it is an option for you.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

●You might need blood tests to make sure that the pregnancy is no longer there. The number of blood tests you need, and when to get them, depends on which treatment you had.

●If you were treated with medicine, you will need to avoid doing certain things for some time. Your doctor will tell you how long before you can do these things again:

•Do not have sex or put anything in your vagina.

•Stay out of the sun. The medicine makes your skin more sensitive to sun.

•Do not take vitamins that contain folic acid.

•Avoid "NSAID" medicines, if your doctor tells you to. These include ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). Some people get mild belly pain or cramps a week or so after the shot of medicine. You can take acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) to help with this.

●If you had surgery, your recovery will depend on the type of surgery you had.

●If you want to try to get pregnant again, talk to your doctor or nurse about when to start trying. If you were treated with methotrexate, most doctors recommend waiting about 3 months before trying to get pregnant.

●Rest when you are able. It's also important to take care of your emotional health. It's normal to be sad or upset after an ectopic pregnancy. It might help to get support from your partner, family, or friends.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to make a follow-up appointment. If you need blood tests, be sure that you know how often to get them and what to do with the results.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

●You have severe pain in your belly or shoulder.

●You feel very weak, lightheaded, or short of breath, or you faint.

●You have new or increased vaginal bleeding.

Call your doctor, nurse, or midwife for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have cramps that do not get better after taking pain medicine.

More on this topic

Patient education: Ectopic pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Salpingectomy (The Basics)

Patient education: Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)