A tubal pregnancy is also called as ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg attaches in some other place other than the uterus i.e. usually in the fallopian tubes. While in some other cases, implantation of the egg takes place in the cervix, ovary or belly.
There is no way to turn the tubal pregnancy into a normal pregnancy. If the pregnancy continues, the fetus continues growing in the fallopian tube and bursts out thus leading to heavy bleeding. Damaging the fallopian tubes can make it very difficult for future pregnancies also.
In case you are diagnosed with a tubal pregnancy, you will need to take immediate treatment before causing any dangerous problems. During the early cases, tubal pregnancy often feels like a normal pregnancy. The symptoms of tubal pregnancy in its early stages are very much similar to normal pregnancy. They include:
- Missed period
- Fatigue
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea
- Increased urination
Apart from these symptoms, tubal pregnancy may also result in light vaginal bleeding; pelvic pain and abdominal pain that start 6-8 weeks after you miss the period. With the progression of tubal pregnancy, some other symptoms may develop. They include:
- Severe or heavy vaginal bleeding
- Pelvic pain or abdominal pain that worsens with movement or straining. This pain starts sharply on one side of the body and slowly it will spread to the entire pelvic region.
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain during a pelvic exam
- Lightheadedness, fainting, and dizziness caused by internal bleeding
- Severe shoulder discomfort resulting from heavy bleeding in the abdomen under the diaphragm. This heavy bleeding causes the irritation of diaphragm, which is gradually experienced as shoulder discomfort.
Also, the tubal pregnancy symptoms and signs are almost similar to the symptoms of miscarriage. If you think you are pregnant and experiencing any of the above symptoms, immediately you should see your doctor.
A tubal pregnancy is not the case with all the pregnant women. Most tubal pregnancies occur in women who are 35-44 years. Also, the pelvic inflammatory disease is one of the risk factors. The risk is even higher with the women who had:
- Surgery of the fallopian tubes
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Previous induced abortions
- Infertility difficulties or usage of drugs to stimulate the ovulation
After getting the proper treatment for tubal pregnancy, you should get regular checkups in order to ensure zero hCG levels. If any certain amount of hCG is detected, it indicates that ectopic tissues are not completely removed.
