Generally, women do not experience anything different during pregnancy, other than the typical symptoms of pregnancy: lack of menstruation, breast tenderness and nausea.
Between the sixth and eighth week of gestation, typical symptoms of tubal pregnancy may appear and deserve attention. Are they:
It usually appears with a lighter intensity and may be accompanied by vaginal bleeding. As the pregnancy progresses, the pain increases and affects the entire abdomen as well as the shoulders and neck. There may also be severe pain that occurs on one side of the abdomen.
Vaginal bleeding
The pregnant woman may have vaginal bleeding that varies from mild to severe
Dizziness and fainting
When there is disruption of the structure that houses the embryo in the fallopian tube, the pregnant woman feels acute pain, more intense vaginal bleeding that causes fainting and dizziness .
Other symptoms: some women have a feeling of heaviness in the vagina, severe pain on palpation of the uterus; bloated abdomen and Beta HCG exam are negative – the one that identifies the pregnancy.
How to detect pregnancy in the tubes?
It is very important that the diagnosis is made as soon as possible to preserve the woman’s health. If the pregnant woman is asymptomatic, she can discover the pregnancy in the tubes during a routine consultation when performing an ultrasound.
In some cases, transvaginal ultrasound may be requested, which can visualize the tubes and uteri and identify where the pregnancy is occurring.
The doctor may also order a blood test to determine the hormone levels present during pregnancy.
A complete blood count (blood test) will be requested to check for anemia or other signs of blood loss.
Main causes of pregnancy in the fallopian tubes
The causes of an ectopic pregnancy are not always clear. Below, see details of what can cause a fallopian tube pregnancy.
Previous ectopic pregnancy
Women who have had this type of pregnancy before are more likely to have another pregnancy in the tubes.
Inflammation or infection
Sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia, can cause inflammation in the tubes and other nearby organs and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Fertility treatments
Some research shows that women who have had IVF or similar treatments are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. That’s because taking medications to stimulate ovulation (the release of an egg) can increase the risk.
Tubal surgery
When a woman has surgery to correct a closed or damaged uterine tube, the risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy increases.
IUD and tubal ligation
Who uses the IUD (Intrauterine Device) is also more susceptible to having a pregnancy in the tubes. Already women who have had tubal ligation also increase the risk of having an unwanted pregnancy in the tubes.
Smokers
Women who smoke also have an increased risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy. It is known that the more she smokes, the greater the risk.
Multiple partners
Having multiple sexual partners can also favor the development of an ectopic pregnancy.
Age
Women over 35 are also more likely to have this type of pregnancy.
Malformation in the fallopian tubes
Some women are born with malformations in the fallopian tubes and are more likely to have a pregnancy in the tubes.
Treatments
The pregnancy in the tubes is rarely able to proceed, since it is safe for the mother. In addition, the embryo will not be able to develop to the end.
Therefore, the embryo is usually removed as quickly as possible to preserve the mother’s health and also her fertility. Treatment options vary according to the location of the ectopic pregnancy and its development.
Below, check out what can be done about a fallopian tube pregnancy.
Medicines
The first step when identifying a pregnancy in the fallopian tubes is to indicate an injectable medication to stop the embryonic development in the fallopian tubes.
The drug causes symptoms similar to a miscarriage such as cramping and bleeding.
Rarely, further surgery is needed afterwards and most of the time, there is no damage to the tubes. However, generally, a woman cannot get pregnant for several months after taking this medicine.
Currently, most tubal pregnancies are diagnosed. So you can avoid bleeding and complications.
Surgeries
The surgeries occur when the pregnancy in the tubes is more advanced. Thus, the surgeon removes the embryo and repairs the internal damage to the tubes.
Usually, it is a minimally invasive surgery (via laparoscopy), in cuts, and recovery occurs quickly. In some cases, it is necessary to remove the fallopian tube during surgery, if it is severely damaged.
A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a surgical emergency because it causes maternal bleeding and risk of death. Therefore, immediate diagnosis is essential.
Prevention and complications
There is no way to prevent a tubal pregnancy. What can be done is to avoid the risk factors that contribute to this problem appearing.
Therefore, it is important to use a condom and limit the number of sexual partners. In addition to regular consultations with a gynecologist to check on reproductive health and treat infections and inflammations early.
The faster the ectopic pregnancy is identified, the lower the risk of possible complications to the woman’s health. Even after a pregnancy in the tubes, some women manage to get pregnant normally and have a baby.
