Introduction There are six million baby births in the United States every year. Of the six million births in the United States, 12,000 are said to be due to ectopic pregnancies. One in fifty women is likely to have an ectopic pregnancy (Diagnostics, Pregnancy). An ectopic pregnancy is a complication that occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and symptoms normally begin to appear between five and fourteen weeks (Diagnostics). Ectopic means “in an abnormal position” (Ectopic). An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg becomes fertilized and begins to develop somewhere other than the uterus. Diagnosing an Ectopic Pregnancy To find out whether a woman's pregnancy has become ectopic, the doctor will do a few different things, such as a pelvic exam, a blood test, or an ultrasound. A pelvic exam would determine the size of your uterus and feel for growths in your stomach. The doctor would notify the woman of any abnormalities, although she would also have to subject the woman to more tests to test positive. A blood test would determine pregnancy hormone levels. After a few days the hormone should increase at a steady rate, otherwise this would suggest abnormalities in the pregnancy. Finally an ultrasound would clearly show the doctor the uterus, if the baby is absent then it would mean an ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy. Causes of an Ectopic Pregnancy The most common reason why an ectopic pregnancy occurs is when the fallopian tubes have a blockage and causes an obstacle that prevents the egg from reaching its destination and therefore becomes embedded in the walls of the fallopian tubes (ectopic ). The fertilized egg can develop in places such as the ovary, the cervix or even a C-section scar. Most likely place... middle of paper... Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/ectopic-pregnancy-topic-overview Ectopic Pregnancy - American Family Doctor. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0215/p1080.htmlEctopic Pregnancy | University of Maryland Medical Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/pregnancy/staying-healthy-during-pregnancy/ectopic-pregnancYDiagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213855/Healthy Outlook: Don't Give Up After Tubal Pregnancy - Contra Costa Health Services. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://cchealth.org/column/2012-0606-healthy-outlook.phpThe mother who risked everything to have her ectopic baby | Post online. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2008476/The-mother-risked-ectopic-baby.html(inspirational article)