A Japanese doctor based in the United States has launched a campaign to raise awareness about ectopic pregnancies based on her own experience, warning “the condition can be fatal if discovered late.”
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the main cavity of the uterus. Women with the condition are unable to give birth to the fetus and require surgery or medication to solve the medical emergency.
Ectopic pregnancies are said to occur in 1 to 2 percent of pregnancies, but there is little general awareness of the condition.
If left untreated, it can cause a fallopian tube to rupture, exposing the woman to the risk of death due to heavy internal bleeding.
The condition can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, or endometriosis, which is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it. While old age and fertility treatments are also considered risk factors, the cause is often unknown.
According to a report released in July by the Japan Medical Safety Research Organization, failed discovery of ectopic pregnancies have resulted in three deaths since 2015.
In one case, a woman who became pregnant through in vitro fertilization died two days after her appointment with an obstetrician. The organization urged healthcare professionals to implement measures to prevent such deaths.
Radiologist Satoko Okamoto Fox, 43, went to the United States to study and married a local man. She now lives in California.
On Dec. 30, 2020, Fox was informed she had an ectopic pregnancy. She had planned to visit the hospital after the new year, but decided to go earlier after experiencing abdominal pain for several days. After being examined, she underwent surgery that same day.
The surgeon told her that there had been a considerable amount of bleeding and that it was fortunate she came in when she did.
Although her life had been saved, Fox was distraught at the loss of her child. “We were able to confirm the baby’s heartbeat. But I couldn’t give birth because of my narrow fallopian tubes,” she said.
Feeling plagued by misfortune and guilty for losing the fetus, as she was 38 years old at the time, she experienced a tremendous sense of grief over the loss of her right fallopian tube and anxiety about whether she would be able to get pregnant in the future.
Fox suppressed her feelings of sadness and grief, telling herself that “there are people suffering more than me.”
Recalling her experience, she said, “I wanted someone to tell me that it’s okay to grieve and that I don’t need to compare my sadness with that of others.”
Having experienced two miscarriages herself, Satoko feels that there is a lack of emotional support for people who have lost a child. In the United States, she organizes online peer support activities every other month for Japanese people who have had the experience.
The support groups provide an opportunity for participants to share their stories. They appreciate the opportunity and say they feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off their shoulders once they “find it natural to grieve.”
Her campaign also involves spreading information through her blog, on which she educates people that ectopic pregnancies can be prevented with proper knowledge and regular checkups.
In Britain, an organization holds an annual Ectopic Pregnancy Awareness Day on August 1. Fox shares information about it as part of her campaign.
Since it is an experience that can happen to anyone, it is important to talk about it so you aren’t seen as a “special person who should be pitied,” Fox said.
“I want many more people to recognize that pregnancy and childbirth are miracles in themselves.”
