If the fallopian tube is abnormal in some way or damaged from pelvic inflammatory disease, the fertilized egg may not be able to travel through the tube to the uterus. Instead, it may start to grow in the fallopian tube, and the resulting pregnancy is called tubal, or ectopic. ("Ectopic" means "out of place.") Because fallopian tubes are not designed to sustain a pregnancy, the growing embryo usually ruptures or otherwise damages the tube and the tissues around it, causing severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. Tubal pregnancies can be a life-threatening problem, requiring surgery to remove the embryo and to repair, if possible, the torn or scarred tissue.