Ectopic Pregnancy: Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

If you are at risk for having an ectopic pregnancy and you think you may be pregnant, use a home pregnancy test. If it is positive, be sure to have a confirmation test done by a health professional, especially if you are concerned about developing an ectopic pregnancy.

If you are receiving methotrexate treatment to end an ectopic pregnancy, you may experience side effects from the medicine. See these tips for managing methotrexate treatment for helpful suggestions on minimizing these side effects.

If you experience an ectopic pregnancy loss, no matter how early in a pregnancy, expect that you and your partner will need time to grieve. It is also possible to develop postpartum depression from the hormonal changes after a pregnancy loss. If you experience symptoms of depression that last for more than 2 weeks, it is important that you call your health professional or a psychologist, clinical social worker, or licensed mental health counselor.

Contacting a support group, reading about the experiences of other women, and talking to friends, a counselor, or a member of the clergy may help you and your family deal with a pregnancy loss. For more information, see the Other Places to Get Help section of this topic.

Concerns about future pregnancy

If you have had an ectopic pregnancy, you may worry about your chances of having a healthy or ectopic pregnancy in the future. Your risk factors and any fallopian tube damage you may have will impact your future risk and your ability to become pregnant. Your health professional can answer your questions based on your risk factors.

Last updated:	June 06, 2007
Author:	Ralph Poore
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Pat Truman, MATC