How is fallopian tube pregnancy treated?
Isabella Ramos
Updated on February 28, 2026
The main treatment options are:
- expectant management – your condition is carefully monitored to see whether treatment is necessary.
- medication – a medicine called methotrexate is used to stop the pregnancy growing.
- surgery – surgery is used to remove the pregnancy, usually along with the affected fallopian tube.
How long can you go with a tubal pregnancy?
However, because tissues outside the uterus cannot provide the necessary blood supply and support, ultimately the fetus does not survive. The structure containing the fetus typically ruptures after about 6 to 16 weeks, long before the fetus is able to live on its own.
Can a tubal pregnancy baby be saved?
The fallopian tubes are the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb. If an egg gets stuck in them, it won’t develop into a baby and your health may be at risk if the pregnancy continues. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to save the pregnancy. It usually has to be removed using medicine or an operation.
Can an ectopic pregnancy go away without surgery?
It is possible for an early ectopic pregnancy to end in miscarriage on its own. However, in most cases it does not, and medical intervention is needed. To treat ectopic pregnancy, the doctor will recommend either a surgical procedure or a medication called methotrexate.
What is methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy?
The most common drug used to treat ectopic pregnancy is methotrexate. This drug stops cells from growing, which ends the pregnancy. The pregnancy then is absorbed by the body over 4–6 weeks. This does not require the removal of the fallopian tube.
Has any baby survived an ectopic pregnancy?
Doctors have hailed as a “miracle” the birth of a baby who beat odds of 60m to one to become the first to develop outside the womb and live. Not only did the baby boy and his mother survive an ectopic pregnancy – but so did two other baby girls. Ronan Ingram was one of three children born to Jane Ingram, 32.
Do ectopic pregnancies test positive?
You may not notice any symptoms at first. However, some women who have an ectopic pregnancy have the usual early signs or symptoms of pregnancy — a missed period, breast tenderness and nausea. If you take a pregnancy test, the result will be positive. Still, an ectopic pregnancy can’t continue as normal.
Can ectopic pregnancies miscarry?
An ectopic pregnancy is one that develops outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Miscarriage is extremely common.
How to end a tubal pregnancy?
A pregnancy can’t survive outside of the uterus, so all ectopic pregnancies must end. It used to be that about 90% of women with ectopic pregnancies had to have surgery. Today, the number of surgeries is much lower, and many more ectopic pregnancies are managed with medication that prevents them from progressing.
How likely is it to get pregnant 5 years after tubal ligation?
Tubal ligation is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy, with rates of pregnancy around 1/1,000 after the first year, and between 2-10/1,000 after five years. Although the possibility of becoming pregnant after tubal ligation is low, the chance is still there.
How soon after a tubal can you get pregnant?
Your tubes should have sufficiently healed after about 1 month postsurgery. Most women become pregnant within one year after reversal of tubal ligation. Pregnancy after tubal ligation is often considered a high-risk pregnancy because there is a chance that the pregnancy will occur outside the uterus (ectopic or tubal).
Can a woman still get pregnant after a tubal ligation?
Although the probability of getting pregnant is very low, it is still possible. Tubal Ligation Reversal: Pregnancy after Tubal Ligation. As noted earlier, tubal ligation is considered a permanent form of birth control. However, a tubal ligation reversal procedure can be used to reconnect the fallopian tubes.