The realization of the news of a tubal pregnancy, also known as an ectopic pregnancy, can be some of the most heart wrenching news for a mother to be. A tubal pregnancy occurs when an egg has been fertilized, but does not make it down into the uterine lining to become implanted in the uterus. This is projected to happen to 1 out of every 50 pregnancies. In over 95% of tubal pregnancies the egg stops traveling in the fallopian tubes, which is where it got its name. There are similar occurrences where the egg will travel and become implanted in the abdomen or the cervix. These are called abdominal or cervical pregnancies. All three of these types of pregnancies lead to severe issues due to the fallopian tubes, abdomen, and cervix not having enough space for growth or nutrient rich tissues to support the fetus's needs. The uterus has the best conditions for a fetus to grow and develop because it has great stretching abilities and it has all of the nurturing tissues for a normal pregnancy to develop correctly. Due to lack of space for growth in the fallopian tubes, abdomen, or cervix, sooner or later the organ will burst. In turn, both the fetus and the mother’s lives are in danger because of severe bleeding. A woman’s fetus suffering a tubal pregnancy will not survive.
Diagnosing a tubal pregnancy can be somewhat difficult because most of the symptoms are exactly like a normal pregnancy. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, missed periods, fatigue, abnormal vaginal bleeding, low back pain, slight cramping on one side of the pelvis, and breast tenderness.
Some first warning signs of a tubal pregnancy are often sharp and stabbing pain in the pelvis and abdomen or vaginal bleeding. Some woman may even suffer from pain in their shoulder or neck due to the organ bursting and blood building up, which can irritate certain nerves. Dizziness or fainting and low blood pressure due to blood loss are other symptoms that can imply a tubal pregnancy.
A tubal pregnancy can be caused by smoking, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), surgery on the fallopian tube, or a previous ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube. All of these causes lead to an egg’s inability to move through the fallopian tubes due to scar tissue.
Depending on how far along the tubal pregnancy is there are different types of treatments used. To avoid any incisions or general anesthesia, a medicine called methotrexate can be used to end the pregnancy. This treatment usually only works when the mother’s pregnancy hormone levels are low, during the first six weeks of pregnancy, or when the fetus has no heart activity. Surgery can also be used as a treatment if the tubal pregnancy has already ruptured and caused bleeding. If it is possible, laparoscopic surgery is used, which only causes a small incision. Some tubal pregnancies can miscarry on their own. A doctor can detect this by testing the woman’s pregnancy hormone levels.
Diagnosing a tubal pregnancy can be somewhat difficult because most of the symptoms are exactly like a normal pregnancy. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, missed periods, fatigue, abnormal vaginal bleeding, low back pain, slight cramping on one side of the pelvis, and breast tenderness.
Some first warning signs of a tubal pregnancy are often sharp and stabbing pain in the pelvis and abdomen or vaginal bleeding. Some woman may even suffer from pain in their shoulder or neck due to the organ bursting and blood building up, which can irritate certain nerves. Dizziness or fainting and low blood pressure due to blood loss are other symptoms that can imply a tubal pregnancy.
A tubal pregnancy can be caused by smoking, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), surgery on the fallopian tube, or a previous ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube. All of these causes lead to an egg’s inability to move through the fallopian tubes due to scar tissue.
Depending on how far along the tubal pregnancy is there are different types of treatments used. To avoid any incisions or general anesthesia, a medicine called methotrexate can be used to end the pregnancy. This treatment usually only works when the mother’s pregnancy hormone levels are low, during the first six weeks of pregnancy, or when the fetus has no heart activity. Surgery can also be used as a treatment if the tubal pregnancy has already ruptured and caused bleeding. If it is possible, laparoscopic surgery is used, which only causes a small incision. Some tubal pregnancies can miscarry on their own. A doctor can detect this by testing the woman’s pregnancy hormone levels.
Sources:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_center/your_pregnancy/ectopic.html
http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/ectopic-pregnancy-treatment-overview
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000895.htm
This is a very interesting post. This has to be very devesating to the women that this occurs in. I wonder if there would be any way for to doctors to move the fertilized egg down the tube to the uterus. Maybe in the future they will be able to do something like that?
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I agree with Alex, it would be very devastating to the woman in which it occurs. Since it has such serious consequences if it isn't taken care of I'm surprised that they haven't developed a better way to detect whether or not the fertilized egg had moved into the uterus or is lodged in the fallopian tube.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if after the doctors prescribe methotrexate, if it is possible that the fetus would stay lodged in the tube even after it is ended. Would this medicine also break down the fetus?
ReplyDeleteI was also wondering about methotrexate but in pregnancies where the egg falls into the abdomen. When this happens can the same drugs be used or does the egg have to be removed surgically from the area?
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