Q: I am four days late but I had a tubal three years ago.

 

A: Whenever you have regular menstrual periods and you are late, there is a chance that you may be pregnant. A tubal ligation does not always work in preventing pregnancy. Depending on the type of tubal ligation, there is a one to three in 1,000 chance it doesn't work. When you get pregnant after a tubal ligation, you are more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy -- a pregnancy outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. The incidence of an ectopic pregnancy is usually about one in 120 pregnancies, but after a tubal ligation it's probably as high as one in 5 pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy could be life-threatening. So when you miss your period after a tubal ligation you want to learn right away if you are pregnant and where the pregnancy is located. Besides missing your period, other signs of an ectopic pregnancy include lower abdominal pain on one side and vaginal spotting. You should do a pregnancy test right away and see your doctor to make sure that you are OK.

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