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The risk of a tubal pregnancy increases if the woman has had an infection in her tubes and ovaries, called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), if the woman has had previous surgery near her tube, a previous tubal pregnancy, or certain birth control methods, endometriosis (a disease which causes scarring of the tubes), or an abortion. Some women who have a history of difficulty getting pregnant, pregnancy as a result of fertility drugs or in vitro fertilization are also under risk of getting tubal ectopic pregnancy.
What are the signs of tubal ectopic pregnancy?
You may not have any risk factors, but still have a tubal ectopic pregnancy. The signs to look for are suspected pregnancy with sharp pain that comes and goes, unusual bleeding in early pregnancy, shoulder pain, and fainting. If you notice any of these symptoms, immediate care is needed.
Tubal ectopic pregnancies are usually discovered when a woman shows some of the symptoms at about six or seven weeks. In some cases, there are no symptoms and the ectopic is discovered during regular first trimester ultrasound. However, it is important to know that symptoms can vary greatly from person to person depending on how far along you are and whether the ectopic pregnancy has ruptured, which is a true obstetric emergency. To prevent rupture, it is critical to get diagnosed and treated as soon as there’s even a hint of a problem. It is also important to know that tubal ectopic pregnancies don't always register on home pregnancy tests. That is why if you suspect there is a problem, you should not wait for a positive pregnancy test to contact your doctor.
Abdominal or pelvic pain or tenderness as a tubal ectopic pregnancy sign can be sudden, persistent, and severe. but may also be mild and intermittent early on. You may feel it only on one side, but the pain can be anywhere in your abdomen or pelvis, and is sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting as well. You should also be wary of vaginal spotting or bleeding. In this case, the blood may look red or brown as if dried, and may be continuous or intermittent, heavy or light.
Shoulder pain, particularly when you lie down, is a red flag for a ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy. If a fallopian tube has ruptured, you may also have signs of shock, such as a a weak, racing pulse, pale, clammy skin, and dizziness or fainting.