Tubular pregnancies, also called tubal or ectopic pregnancies, are pregnancies wherein the fertilized egg cells attach in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Even though an ectopic pregnancy may seem like a normal pregnancy at first because the signs are the same as they are for a normal pregnancy, an ectopic pregnancy is not a viable pregnancy. It is not possible for a foetus to develop outside the womb, so if the fertilized egg stays in the tube and begins to grow in the tube instead of the uterus, it must be removed. Ectopic pregnancies have drastic consequences, including damage or loss of a fallopian tube; they can also be life threatening to the mother.

It is important for all pregnant women to receive prenatal care, and with such proper care, it is more likely that an ectopic pregnancy will be discovered earlier rather than later. As is true with most conditions, the earlier an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed the better the treatment options.

Treatment

If your pregnancy is determined to be ectopic, or tubal, the treatment is to remove the fertilized cells. If the pregnancy is in the very early stages, this may be done non-surgically with one or more injections of a medication called methotrexate. Methotrexate discontinues the pregnancy by prohibiting the continued growth of the cells, and the tissue is then reabsorbed by the body. Sometimes one shot is sufficient; sometimes more than one shot is necessary.

If the pregnancy is discovered to be tubular too late for the methotrexate option, surgery is required. The surgery can frequently be laparoscopic in nature, which is am fairly non-invasive surgical technique. With laparoscopic surgery, the doctor makes a very small incision in your abdomen – usually right near or inside the belly button. Then, he or she takes the laparoscope – a thin tube that has a light on the end of it – and inserts it into the opening to look for the location of the pregnancy and any resulting damage to the fallopian tube. Once the cells are located, the doctor removes them, and if it is possible to repair any damage that may have happened to the tube, the doctor does that, too. Sometimes, he or she may need to remove the fallopian tube.

If the pregnancy proceeds long enough before it is diagnosed as ectopic, it may be necessary for you to have regular abdominal surgery to remove the tissue and repair or remove the fallopian tube. Generally, this would require general anaesthesia and all the risks associated with major surgery.

Seeking Advice
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, it is extremely important that you seek qualified medical advice if you experience bleeding, spotting, or abdominal pain immediately to ascertain whether or not the pregnancy is tubal.