Pregnancy without a Uterus?

When I was still in medical school we had a very unusual case come to Groote Schuur Hospital. A woman had an ectopic preganancy in her liver. Tasty.

Now for those of you who don't know... or for some sicko Intern-like reason, are interested... An ectopic pregnancy simply means a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. Almost 100% of these will never survive as most ectopics implant into the tiny fallopian tube. At 8 weeks, the fallopian tube bursts as it cannot contain the growing fetus. Then, it's surgery and the usual save-her-life type stuff. Remove the tube, decrease fertility - but keep the patient. A delicate balancing act, no?

But, there is an exception every rule - sometimes - very rarely, the egg retrogradely moves out the fallopian tube into the abdomen and implants itself onto the bowel or peritoneal lining or, in this case, the liver...

This woman, with the help of some amazing Obstetricians and surgeons (to save her life and stuff) delivered a healthy baby girl.

And the point of the tale...

It just proves that you don't need to have a uterus to have a pregnancy... You know it's coming! Next post...