Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, underwent emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy last week. An ectopic pregnancy is when a fetus implants and develops outside of the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. As a result, one of the Countess' tubes had to be removed. She and her husband, the Earl of Wessex, have said they will try again to have a baby.
The surgery may make it more difficult for the 36-year old Countess to conceive naturally in the future, who has said publicly that she would very much like to have children. Earlier this year the Countess said 'if I'm lucky enough to have any, one of each would be nice. I certainly don't think I have left it too late. I would explore all avenues and I certainly wouldn't rule out IVF.'
According to BBC News Online, one in 100 pregnancies are ectopic. A woman who has had an ectopic pregnancy is likely to have reduced fertility, and the likelihood of another ectopic pregnancy becomes greater. Adam Balen, spokesman for the British Fertility Society, said that an ectopic pregnancy is a common reason for couples to seek fertility treatments such as IVF, but said that 'IVF does not guarantee that a woman will not suffer an ectopic'.
Sources and References
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Sophie: my heartache
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Ectopic pregnancy
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Countess says she still hopes to have a child
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