Pregnancy, tubal is a pregnancy that is not found within the uterus but is within the Fallopian tube. Tubal pregnancies are due to the inability of the fertilized egg to make its way into the uterus.
Most tubal pregnancies occur in women who are 35 to 44 years of age. Tubal pregnancies are the most common type of extrauterine or ectopic pregnancies, accounting for the large majority of all pregnancies outside the womb.
SYMPTOMS
The first usual symptom of tubal pregnancy is a pain. The pain is usually located on one side and may occur in the pelvis, abdomen or even in the shoulder or neck. The pain feels like you’ve been stabbed with sharp objects. Dizziness, weakness, headache, and fainting are symptoms of severe internal bleeding, requiring urgent medical attention.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis of a tubal pregnancy involves a pelvic exam to test for pain, tenderness or a mass in the abdomen. The most useful laboratory test is the measurement of the hormone hCG. In a normal pregnancy, the level of hCG doubles every two days in the first 10 weeks. In a tubal pregnancy, the increase in hCG levels is usually slower and lower than normal.
Ultrasound can also help determine if a pregnancy is ectopic. Culdocentesis, the insertion of a needle through the vagina into the space behind the uterus, may be used to see if there is blood from a ruptured Fallopian tube.
TREATMENT
To treat a tubal pregnancy, the pregnant woman will need to undergo surgery, usually by laparoscopy, to remove the ill-fated pregnancy. If the tube has not yet ruptured, there is a possibility to repair it; but if the tube has already ruptured, the doctor usually removes it.
The outlook for future pregnancies is based on the results of the surgery. If the Fallopian tube has been saved, the chance of a successful pregnancy may be more than 50%. If the Fallopian tube was successfully removed, the chance of a successful pregnancy can be below 50%.
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