In a normal, healthy pregnancy, the fertilized egg travels to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine lining. A tubal, tubular, or ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg does not travel all the way tom the womb and instead implants itself in one of the fallopian tubes.
Risk of Having a Tubal Pregnancy

Any situation that would make it more difficult for the egg to travel to the uterus increases the risk of a tubular pregnancy. Such circumstances might include a previous surgery on the fallopian tube or an infection or sexually transmitted disease that has resulted in a narrowing of the tube or scar tissue on the tube. Most commonly, that infection is PID, or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Other risk factors include being aged 35 to 44 years old, having had a previous ectopic pregnancy, or having had certain fertility problems and/or treatments, including the use of medicines that stimulate ovulation.

Signs of a Tubular Pregnancy

The first indication that you may have an ectopic pregnancy is usually pain, so if you are pregnant and are experiencing abdominal pain, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible, especially if one of the above risk factors applies to you. Other indications of a tubal pregnancy are the same as or similar to those of a normal pregnancy, such as soreness or tenderness in the breasts, missed periods, and morning sickness.

The Dangers of an Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy does not result in a live birth. The fallopian tube is not an adequate environment for the full development of a foetus, and the greatest risk is that the baby will grow too large for the tube and the tube will rupture. A rupture of the fallopian tube can be a risk to the woman’s life and causes severe pain and bleeding.

Treatment

If a doctor discovers that your pregnancy is ectopic, and it is discovered early enough in the pregnancy, the least invasive treatment is to give the woman a shot of the drug methotrexate. Methotrexate allows the body to reabsorb the fertilized egg, and there is usually no scarring of the tube when this treatment is possible.

Sometimes, however, the injection is not an option. In that case, the mother will need to have surgery, in which the fertilized egg is removed from the body. Often, if the tubal pregnancy is discovered early enough, the surgery can be done via a laparoscope, which generally only requires a very small incision and is the second least invasive treatment for a tubal pregnancy. If the egg has grown too large or there is damage to the tube already, the woman may need to undergo more traditional surgery to remove the egg.