Most ectopic pregnancies occur when the implantation occurs in the fallopian tube. In rare cases, the implantation could occur in the cervix or the ovary or abdomen.

An ectopic pregnancy fetus is typically unable to survive and this is a situation that is very dangerous; potentially fatal for the mother as well.

It is therefore very important to watch out for ectopic pregnancy symptoms.

The most commonly experienced ectopic pregnancy symptoms are bleeding and cramping; however, there are others that should be watched out for:

• The pain that is caused by an ectopic pregnancy is usually one sided, severe and persistent pain in the lower abdomen. The pain may be sharp or stabbing in nature.
• There could also be shoulder pain and pain in the lower back. The shoulder pain could be because of internal bleeding that places pressure on the diaphragm or other organs.
• There could also be rectal pressure experienced and pain when passing urine or having a bowel movement.
• Bleeding is one of the main ectopic pregnancy symptoms; which may be internal or vaginal. When the bleeding is vaginal, it will typically be different from regular menstrual blood; it will be darker in color and watery as well. [vaginal bleeding]
• Ectopic pregnancy will often cause internal bleeding which will manifest in ectopic pregnancy symptoms such as dizziness or feelings of weakness. Blood pressure may drop due to internal bleeding and if the fallopian tube ruptures, the pulse may weaken, and skin may feel clammy.

If any of these ectopic pregnancy symptoms are experienced, it is important to seek medical attention at once.

Once a diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy has been confirmed, treatment is started immediately.

Medicine to dissolve the pregnancy could be administered or if there has been a rupture of the tube, then surgery would have to be carried out on an emergency basis. There are several factors that increase risk of having an ectopic pregnancy:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (caused by Chlamydia or gonorrhea) is among the most important risk factors.
• Tubal endometriosis, which causes scarring, could be a cause.
• Abdominal surgeries such as C sections and appendicitis can also increase risk.
• Certain birth control methods such as the coil and the mini pill could also increase risk.
• Someone who has once experienced an ectopic pregnancy is more at risk of undergoing it a second time.

Most often, this erroneous development starts in the fallopian tube, (though less often it can occur in the cervix, ovaries and the abdomen as well) and this is the reason that ectopic pregnancy is also called tubal pregnancy.

Since this is a serious complication that could end in the mother’s death, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of tubal pregnancy:

Early symptoms of tubal pregnancy: The early symptoms of a tubal pregnancy are much the same as a normal pregnancy, with the woman experiencing the stoppage of her menstrual period, some morning sickness, breast tenderness, feelings of lassitude etc.

Later symptoms of tubal pregnancy: Women experience pain in the lower abdomen and vaginal bleeding.

There may be inflammation, and other pain and discomfort. There could be lower back or pelvic pain experienced and even sometimes pain in the shoulder area. There could be feelings of tenderness and cramping in the pelvic region.

It is important for the symptoms of tubal pregnancy not to be confused with other symptoms which they can often be confused with, although pain and bleeding are the main symptoms.

The symptoms are often the same as those of gastrointestinal disorders, appendicitis, urinary track problems, other gynecological disorders and even pelvic inflammatory disease.

Medical symptoms of Tubal Pregnancy: An abnormal rise in the HCG levels in the pregnant woman may indicate a tubal pregnancy, so this could be a medical indication that the physician should be watching out for.

An ultrasound is best able to detect a tubal pregnancy, wherein the gestational sac is seen to subsist and the heartbeat is detected in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus. Sometimes a laparoscopy or a laparotomy or less commonly culdocentesis could be required to confirm an ectopic pregnancy.

In any case symptoms of a tubal pregnancy are important to watch out for, since this is a life threatening condition if not resolved quickly.

“You have an ectopic pregnancy” is not what you want to hear from your doctor.

This type of pregnancy does not end with a good result. It can be devastating to you and your whole family. Ectopic pregnancy is a silent, painful thing. Making plans for your new baby will turn into a very sad event.

You probably will not know if you have this kind of pregnancy unless you start to have pain. Usually you will find out that you have this type of pregnancy when you go for your first ultrasound.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg starts to grow inside your fallopian tubes. It can also grow in the abdomen or on the outside of the cervix. Once the egg attaches itself, there is no known way to re-establish its location.

There is no procedure developed to solve this problem. Major surgery is not always necessary with the new technology advancement in medical science. This makes the solution to an ectopic pregnancy less painful for you, and it will be easier to deal with for your physician.

Probable Causes

If you smoke and you want to plan for pregnancy again, then it would probably be a good idea if you try to quit. Smoking can be a cause of ectopic pregnancies. Gonorrhea and chlamydia infections are other causes of an ectopic pregnancy.

Endometriosis in a previous pregnancy is a well-known cause for this type of pregnancy. This condition can leave scarring in the fallopian tubes.

Other causes are surgery in the fallopian tubes or pelvic area, and In vitro fertilization procedure. If you have any of these risk factors, you will want to go to your physician at the first sign that you are pregnant.

Alternative Treatment

There are two things that will determine what kind of treatment will be needed if you have an ectopic pregnancy. Your physician will consider the location of your embryo when determining treatment for ectopic pregnancy.

He will also take into consideration how long you have been pregnant. Your physician may prescribe medication to help with this pregnancy.

Your physician will usually treat you with a drug called methotrexate. This medication allows the embryo to be absorbed back into the body.

After the Pregnancy

You will feel a great loss after your treatment for an ectopic pregnancy. You will have to give yourself time to heal. Be assured that this loss was not your fault.

Sometimes a woman will get postpartum depression after the loss of a child. If you feel sadness, hopelessness, and extreme anxiety for a long period then you may need to have a check up by your physician.

He or she can help you with this problem. You may need some counseling or even medication to help you deal with your recent loss. Sometimes you may require both.

Thus, ectopic pregnancy is also known as tubal pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is common that it occurs in one out of every two hundred pregnancies.

Ectopic pregnancy symptoms are similar to that of normal early pregnancy signs.

The ectopic pregnancy symptoms vary greatly from pregnancy to pregnancy, and also depends on whether the ectopic pregnancy has ruptured.

The first ectopic pregnancy symptom is vaginal bleeding, which develops in almost eighty percent of all ectopic pregnancies.

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy will occur at the time of implantation. It also occurs when hormone levels are too little to stop the normal bleeding. Low blood pressure if bleeding is high is also an ectopic pregnancy symptom.

Lower abdominal or pelvic pain is a common ectopic pregnancy symptom that develops in the early stages when the embryo implants itself outside the uterus. It generally occurs suddenly with severe pain at only one side.

Irregular menstrual period is also an ectopic pregnancy symptom that makes you suspect pregnancy. Shoulder pain is also an ectopic pregnancy sign that can cause pain in the shoulder.

Nausea and vomiting also develops in the early stages of ectopic pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting is also referred to as morning sickness [Morning Sickness Cure]. This ectopic pregnancy symptom may occur with or without vomiting.

This symptom generally develops two weeks after your date of conception. However, you may experience this symptom for about eight weeks during pregnancy. This ectopic pregnancy symptom develops when there is rapid increase in estrogen levels produced by the body.

Tenderness in the breast and breast soreness also develops in the early stages of ectopic pregnancy. The breasts will become more sensitive to touch. This ectopic pregnancy symptom develops when hormonal imbalance occur in the body.

However, the symptom disappears once your body adjusts to the hormonal changes. Even the soreness of the breast will reduce.

Tiredness also develops during early stages of ectopic pregnancy. This symptom occurs when the body works hard to maintain with the changes. High production of progesterone levels is the main cause for this ectopic pregnancy symptom.

The early ectopic pregnancy symptoms also include cramping on one side of pelvis, faintness, or low back pain.

If an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, you may experience pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or in neck region. The pain ranges from very mild to very severe.

The symptoms may also lead to shock. In most of the cases, the symptoms of shock are the first ectopic pregnancy symptoms indicating some serious conditions.

Lightheadedness, dizziness, pale complexion, sweating, abdominal or pelvic pain (severe) and fast heartbeat rate are the first ectopic pregnancy symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Consult your doctor immediately for proper treatment if you experience any of these ectopic pregnancy symptoms for more than few weeks. In some cases, you may experience no symptoms. So, a regular checkup with the doctor can determine the condition in early stages.

In other words, it is a pregnancy where fully fertilized egg from the ovary simply places itself outside the uterus for gestation.

Tubal pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg resides in a fallopian tube rather than transferring to the uterus, where it is need to embed. The egg gets stuck when a tube is damaged, scarred, or distorted.

The most common place that fertilized egg places itself is within one of the fallopian tubes, the tubes that transfer the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Tubal pregnancies also take place on the outer surface of the uterus, on the ovaries, or connect to the bowel.

Tubal pregnancy is the major cause of death in the early stages of pregnancy. The risk factors associated with tubal pregnancy are pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, endometriosis, earlier tubal pregnancy, earlier abdominal or pelvic surgery, and earlier tubal ligation and usage of intrauterine device.

Tubal pregnancy generally occurs in the first five to ten weeks of pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you experience heavy vaginal bleeding or severe pain. Your doctor will perform a pelvic test to trace the areas causing pain as well as to check for the uterus size and recommend having urine pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.

On the other hand, if you already confirmed your pregnancy, the doctor will recommend having blood tests to measure the HCG levels. If the HCG levels are lower than normal for your pregnancy stage, it signs for tubal pregnancy.

Thus, an ultrasound test will be recommended to determine the position of your pregnancy. It is generally suggested when your vaginal bleeding is heavy or the condition becomes life threatening.

Remember that an ultrasound test is a type of imaging through sound waves. It is extremely painless. However, every ectopic pregnancy cannot be detected through ultrasound test. If tubal pregnancy is determined then your doctor proceeds to the treatment options based on your condition.

Culdocentesis is another test that is performed very rarely to observe internal bleeding. During this test, your doctor will insert a needle into the space on top of the vagina. Any blood or fluid found on the needle indicates it from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Keep in mind that tubal pregnancy does not signify a developing baby. It can be life threatening and need immediate treatment. However, the treatment for tubal pregnancy depends on the size and location of pregnancy as well as your personal preference regarding future pregnancy.

Medicine, surgery, or both can be used to treat tubal pregnancy. If the tubal pregnancy is very small and in the fallopian tube, you may be treated with an injection of methotrexate, without damaging the fallopian tubes and other organs, to break up the fertilized egg and to expel it from the body.

On the other hand, laparoscopic surgery is most often used to remove the tubal pregnancy when it is large or outside the fallopian tube.

Ectopic pregnancy is also called “tubal pregnancy.”

It has been found that, in United States, approximately 70,000 pregnant women suffer from ectopic pregnancy.

Tubal pregnancies results when damage to the fallopian tube occurs.

This condition may also occur if you have pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue, endometriosis, or previous surgery.

Your chance of having ectopic pregnancy is more if you come across with ectopic pregnancy previously.

It also increases with the usage of contraceptive coil or birth control pill (only progesterone). In-vitro fertilization may also lead to ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, women will face this problem even if there are no above-mentioned risk factors.

Abdominal or pelvic pain is the first symptom associated with tubal pregnancy. The pain can be on one side; it can start suddenly and can remain constant.

With ectopic pregnancy, you also experience shoulder pain (increases while breathing), pain during urination, sickness, fatigue, diarrhea, low blood pressure, paleness, vaginal bleeding, lightheadedness, and early pregnancy symptoms.

If you find any of these symptoms, right away consult your doctor and inform your condition. Your doctor will perform a pelvic examination to determine the status of the uterus.

If the size of the womb is smaller than in a normal pregnancy, the doctor confirms the condition to be ectopic pregnancy. Ovaries and fallopian tubes will also be examined for further confirmation.

Your doctor will recommend you to have urine test. However, urine test is not the efficient method to confirm the condition. You will be asked to have blood test to check the hormone levels (HCG) in the blood.

In the ectopic pregnancy, the HCG level as well as progesterone levels will be lower when compared to normal pregnancy.

Based on your hormone levels, doctor will suggest you to get examined of the blood samples for every two days (the level normally increases for every two days in normal pregnancy) to check the increase or decrease in the hormone levels.

Although ultrasound may not detect every ectopic pregnancy, it will be recommended to identify the presence of developing fetus or masses in the abdominal area. Culdocentesis is also recommended (rarely) for internal bleeding.

Once the condition is analyzed, the doctor starts ectopic pregnancy treatment. As this kind of pregnancy leads to dangerous condition, it must be treated in the early stages to avoid complications.

Treatment for tubal pregnancy depends on the size, location, and personal preference about future pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy in the early stage can be treated with medication. Methotrexate is an injection given to dissolve the fetus and to reduce the scarring of the pelvic organs.

If the pregnancy is in advanced stage or any rupture takes place, surgery is required. With the advancement in the technology, it is now possible to remove the fertilized egg.

Your chance of having this kind of pregnancy is very high with a succeeding ectopic pregnancy. So, consult your doctor immediately as soon as you become pregnant again.