Tubal Pregnancy Symptoms
Tubal Pregnancy Symptoms: All about Ectopic Pregnancy
This article focuses on Ectopic pregnancy and Tubal pregnancy symptoms. Tubal pregnancy is a rare condition where the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube. Ideally, fertilised eggs travel through the fallopian tube and implant themselves in the uterus. Tubal pregnancy is also known as Ectopic pregnancy. The fallopian tube is the fleshy tube that connects the ovaries and the uterus of a woman. A woman ovulates every month and the egg travels down the fallopian tube and reaches the uterus. The sperm from the man will usually meet the egg in the fallopian tube itself. The fertilisation process occurs in the fallopian tube as well. However, once this process is concluded, the egg should continue its journey and reach the uterus. Once it reaches the uterus, the egg should implant itself in the wall of the uterus known as the uterine wall. However, with an ectopic pregnancy, the egg, instead of continuing along to the uterus, will implant itself in the fallopian tube.
The number of people who have an ectopic pregnancy is less. The chances of a person having such a pregnancy is anywhere from one in forty to one in hundred. There has been no medical explanation as to why such a thing would happen. This puts a lot of people at risk. However, there are a few factors that might increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. People with a history of PID or pelvic inflammatory disease are at an extra risk. PID is a condition caused due to gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, both sexually transmitted diseases. Abdominal surgery increases the chances of having a tubal pregnancy as well. Surgery leads to internal scarring. This might obstruct the flow of the egg from the fallopian tube to the uterus.
A person having had an IUD or intrauterine device is also at a greater risk. Tubal ligation is another common practice that increases the chances of having a tubal pregnancy. Tubal ligation is also commonly known as having tubes tied. Birth control pills help you in preventing pregnancy. They might also cause ectopic pregnancy. The reversal of tubal ligation will cause internal scarring. This might lead to ectopic pregnancies. If there has to be an age group where people have very high rates of ectopic pregnancies, it would have to be thirty five to forty four years.
The problem with tubal pregnancy is that the early signs are very easy to ignore or overlook. Early tubal pregnancy symptoms are similar to the normal pregnancy symptoms. They can be easy to miss. However, there are few marked symptoms that can be easily noticed. These include pain in the lower abdomen. It can also be cramping. Many times the pain or cramp appears only on one side of the abdomen. Another sign might be multiple missed periods. There might also be some vaginal spotting or even bleeding. However, this will not be like a normal period. Tubal pregnancies are usually detected in the first trimester itself. It is common to discover tubal pregnancies before the tenth week.
The doctor will usually look for a few particular tubal pregnancy symptoms that many women with tubal pregnancies show. One thing that the doctor will try and look for is an adnexal mass. Adnexa is the medical term used to denote the region containing the ovaries and the fallopian tube. The ovaries, which are the only mass in the adnexa, are usually too small to be able to feel. The doctor will check for a solid mass in the area that can be felt. A pregnancy blood test can also give the doctor a few clues regarding the pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones rise at a steady level throughout the pregnancy. However, sometimes the hormones might rise at too slow a level. This indicates abnormal pregnancy and could be tubal pregnancy.