Tubal Pregnancy Symptoms

Tubal pregnancy is a form of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants outside the uterine cavity. Most of the ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube (about 95% of them).

Causes

When an egg is fertilized, it has to go through the fallopian tube and into the uterus where it will start dividing and become a fetus. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the egg will fail to reach the uterus and will remain in the fallopian tube. Here it will start growing and eventually cause complications to the mother.

There are a number of factors that can lead to tubal pregnancy. Most common of them all is a previous infection of the fallopian tube. The infection damages the tube at some point, causing scaring or distortion of the tissue. When the egg goes through, it could get lodged. Chlamydia, gonorrhea and pelvic inflammatory disease are the usual conditions that could lead to ectopic pregnancy. Other conditions that could lead to tubal pregnancy are:

  • Invasive surgery procedures done inside the abdomen, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, lower abdomen or bowels
  • Previous ectopic pregnancies
  • Use of fertility drugs
  • Endometriosis
  • Use of an intrauterine device
  • Infertility

    Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment







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    Ectopic pregnancy may not necessarily occur in the fallopian tubes. There are 5% chances that the egg will implant in the cervix, abdomen or ovaries - these conditions are known as nontubal ectopic pregnancies.

    A tubal pregnancy can be detected between the 5th and 10th week of pregnancy. Initial symptoms may coincide with those attributed to early pregnancy. But as the egg starts to divide and grow, some alarming symptoms may occur. Most common are:

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Shoulder and abdominal pain
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness and overall weakness

    If an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, a visit to the doctor is recommended immediately. Ultrasounds are usually used to diagnose the condition, even though it can be pretty hard to do so in the early stages. A laparoscopy procedure is only done in urgent cases and, because it involves surgery, treatment is provided right away if the diagnosis is confirmed.

    Treatment consists of two options: surgical (laparoscopy procedure) and chemical. The chemical treatment involves taking a drug called methotrexate. This is the most common method used to treat the condition, for it is noninvasive and there is no risk of damaging the fallopian tubes. Basically, the drug will dissolve the pregnancy, leaving the tubes and other organs intact and safe.

    While it is true that after experiencing a tubal pregnancy, chances of going through it again are higher, it is not always the case. If the tubes are intact, there are high chances of a normal pregnancy. Even if surgery was needed in order to treat the ectopic pregnancy and the tubes or other organs were damaged in the process, there are still other options of getting pregnant. Age, the reason why the ectopic pregnancy occurred in the first place and whether the woman has other previous successful pregnancies are all contributing factors to determine the likelihood of ectopic pregnancies occurring again.

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