When Does Ectopic Pregnancy Pain Start?

When Does Ectopic Pregnancy Pain Start
Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy – An ectopic pregnancy doesn’t always cause symptoms and may only be detected during a routine pregnancy scan. If you do have symptoms, they tend to develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. Symptoms can include a combination of:

a missed period and other signs of pregnancy tummy pain low down on one side vaginal bleeding or a brown watery dischargepain in the tip of your shoulderdiscomfort when peeing or pooing

But these symptoms aren’t necessarily a sign of a serious problem. They can sometimes be caused by other problems, such as a stomach bug, Read more about the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy,

Contents

How soon would you know if you have an ectopic pregnancy?

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy usually develop between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. Some women don’t have any symptoms at first. They may not find out they have an ectopic pregnancy until an early scan shows the problem or they develop more serious symptoms later on.

What does the beginning of an ectopic pregnancy feel like?

Early warning of ectopic pregnancy – Often, the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. If blood leaks from the fallopian tube, you may feel shoulder pain or an urge to have a bowel movement. Your specific symptoms depend on where the blood collects and which nerves are irritated.

What is the main three symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?

Symptoms – At first you may not have any symptoms of an early ectopic pregnancy. They may seem very similar to a normal pregnancy. You might miss your period and have discomfort in your belly and tenderness in your breasts, Only about half of women with an ectopic pregnancy will have all three of the main signs: a missed period, vaginal bleeding, and belly pain.

Nausea and vomiting with painSharp abdominal cramps Pain on one side of your body Dizziness or weakness Pain in your shoulder, neck, or rectum

How can I rule out ectopic pregnancy?

Blood tests – Blood tests to measure the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may also be carried out twice, 48 hours apart, to see how the level changes over time. This can be a useful way of identifying ectopic pregnancies that aren’t found during an ultrasound scan, as the level of hCG tends to be lower and rise more slowly over time than in a normal pregnancy.

How do you rule an ectopic pregnancy?

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS The classic findings of ectopic pregnancy are vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain in the setting of a positive pregnancy test. Even if a cervical or vaginal source of bleeding is identified, all patients with first-trimester bleeding should be evaluated by transvaginal ultrasound.

What are 3 causes of an ectopic pregnancy?

What causes an ectopic pregnancy? – The cause of an ectopic pregnancy isn’t always clear. In some cases, the following conditions have been linked with an ectopic pregnancy:

inflammation and scarring of the fallopian tubes from a previous medical condition, infection, or surgeryhormonal factorsgenetic abnormalitiesbirth defectsmedical conditions that affect the shape and condition of the fallopian tubes and reproductive organs

Your doctor may be able to give you more specific information about your condition.

How long can an ectopic pregnancy last before it ruptures?

Topic Resources Ectopic pregnancy is attachment (implantation) of a fertilized egg in an abnormal location, such as the fallopian tubes.

In an ectopic pregnancy, the fetus cannot survive. When an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, women often have abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, which, if not treated, can be fatal. Doctors base the diagnosis on results of blood tests and ultrasonography, done mainly to determine the location of the fetus. Usually, surgery is done to remove the fetus and placenta, but sometimes one or more doses of methotrexate can be used to end the ectopic pregnancy.

Pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancy, are problems that occur only during pregnancy. They may affect the woman, the fetus, or both and may occur at different times during the pregnancy. Most pregnancy complications can be effectively treated.

In ectopic pregnancy, the fetus cannot survive, and if not diagnosed and treated promptly, ectopic pregnancy can cause life-threatening bleeding in the woman. Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and becomes implanted in the uterus. However, if the tube is narrowed or blocked, the fertilized egg may never reach the uterus.

What is the First Sign of an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Sometimes the fertilized egg then implants in tissues outside of the uterus, resulting in an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies usually develop in one of the fallopian tubes (as a tubal pregnancy) but may develop in other locations. A fetus in an ectopic pregnancy sometimes survives for several weeks.

  • 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.
  • When an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, bleeding may be severe and even threaten the life of the woman.

The later the structure ruptures, the worse the blood loss, and the higher the risk of death. However, if an ectopic pregnancy is treated before it ruptures, the woman rarely dies. About two of 100 pregnancies are an ectopic pregnancy. Risk factors (conditions that increase the risk of a disorder) that particularly increase the risk for an ectopic pregnancy include

A previous ectopic pregnancy Fallopian tube abnormalities

Pregnancy is less likely to occur after tubal ligation is done or when an IUD is in place (fewer than 1.5% of women become pregnant). However, if pregnancy does occur, about 5% of them are ectopic. Other risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include

Will I test positive if I have an ectopic pregnancy?

Would an Ectopic Pregnancy Show Up on a Home Pregnancy Test? – Since ectopic pregnancies still produce the hormone hCG, they’ll register as a positive home pregnancy test. People with ectopic pregnancies will also experience early pregnancy symptoms like sore breasts, nausea, spotting, and more.

What is the hCG level for ectopic pregnancy?

Article Sections – Ectopic pregnancy occurs at a rate of 19.7 cases per 1,000 pregnancies in North America and is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester. Greater awareness of risk factors and improved technology (biochemical markers and ultrasonography) allow ectopic pregnancy to be identified before the development of life-threatening events.

The evaluation may include a combination of determination of urine and serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, serum progesterone levels, ultrasonography, culdocentesis and laparoscopy. Key to the diagnosis is determination of the presence or absence of an intrauterine gestational sac correlated with quantitative serum beta-subunit hCG (ß-hCG) levels.

An ectopic pregnancy should be suspected if transvaginal ultrasonography shows no intrauterine gestational sac when the ß-hCG level is higher than 1,500 mlU per mL (1,500 IU per L). If the ß-hCG level plateaus or fails to double in 48 hours and the ultrasound examination fails to identify an intrauterine gestational sac, uterine curettage may determine the presence or absence of chorionic villi.

  1. Although past treatment consisted of an open laparotomy and salpingectomy, current laparoscopic techniques for unruptured ectopic pregnancy emphasize tubal preservation.
  2. Other treatment options include the use of methotrexate therapy for small, unruptured ectopic pregnancies in hemodynamically stable patients.

Expectant management may have a role when ß-hCG levels are low and declining. Ectopic pregnancy is any pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum implants outside the intrauterine cavity. More than 95 percent of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes.1 Another 2.5 percent occur in the cornua of the uterus, and the remainder are found in the ovary, cervix or abdominal cavity.1 Because none of these anatomic sites can accommodate placental attachment or a growing embryo, the potential for rupture and hemorrhage always exists.

A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a true medical emergency. It is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first trimester and accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all maternal deaths.2 – 4 Modern advances in ultrasound technology and the determination of serum beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels have made it easier to diagnose ectopic pregnancy.

Nonetheless, the diagnosis remains a challenge. The number of ectopic pregnancies has increased dramatically in the past few decades. Based on hospital discharge data, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has risen from 4.5 cases per 1,000 pregnancies in 1970 5, 6 to 19.7 cases per 1,000 pregnancies in 1992.2 The rise can be attributed partly to increases in certain risk factors but mostly to improved diagnostics.

Some ectopic pregnancies detected today, for instance, would have spontaneously resolved without detection or intervention in the past. Ectopic pregnancy is more often detected in women over 35 years of age and in non-white ethnic groups.1 The case-fatality rate has declined from 35.5 maternal deaths per 10,000 ectopic pregnancies in 1970 to only 3.8 maternal deaths per 10,000 ectopic pregnancies in 1989.6 Even though overall survival has increased, the risk of death associated with ectopic pregnancy remains higher among black and other non-white minority women.

Several factors increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy ( Table 1 ), These risk factors share a common mechanism of action—namely, interference with fallopian tube function. Normally, an egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube and then travels down the tube to the implantation site.

You might be interested:  When Should I Worry About Left Side Pain?

Any mechanism that interferes with the normal function of the fallopian tube during this process increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The mechanism can be anatomic (e.g., scarring that blocks transport of the egg) or functional (e.g., impaired tubal mobility). In the general population, pelvic inflammatory disease is the most common risk factor for ectopic pregnancy.

Organisms that preferentially attack the fallopian tubes include Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and mixed aerobes and anaerobes. Unlike mixed aerobes and anaerobes, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis can produce silent infections. In women with these infections, even early treatment does not necessarily prevent tubal damage.7 Intrauterine devices (IUDs) used for contraception do not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, and no evidence suggests that currently available IUDs cause pelvic inflammatory disease.

One explanation for the mistaken association of IUDs with ectopic pregnancy may be that when an IUD is present, ectopic pregnancy occurs more often than intrauterine pregnancy.1, 8 Simply because IUDs are more effective in preventing intrauterine pregnancy than ectopic pregnancy, implantation is more likely to occur in an ectopic location.

Previous ectopic pregnancy becomes a more significant risk factor with each successive occurrence. With one previous ectopic pregnancy treated by linear salpingostomy, the recurrence rate ranges from 15 to 20 percent, depending on the integrity of the contralateral tube.1, 9 Two previous ectopic pregnancies increase the risk of recurrence to 32 percent, although an intervening intrauterine pregnancy lowers this rate.1, 10 Endometriosis, tubal surgery and pelvic surgery result in pelvic and tubal adhesions and abnormal tubal function.

The fallopian tubes may also be affected by other, less clearly understood causes of infertility, as well as many of the hormones that are administered to aid ovulation and improve fertility.10 In utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) is associated with uterotubal anomalies ranging from gross structural abnormalities such as a double uterus to more subtle microscopic abnormalities resulting in tubal dysfunction.1, 10, 11 Any uterotubal anomalies, with or without DES exposure, increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Cigarette smoking has an independent and dose-related effect on the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Cigarette smoking is known to affect ciliary action in the nasopharynx and respiratory tract. A similar effect may occur within the fallopian tubes.3, 12 Multiple sexual partners, early age at first intercourse and vaginal douching are often considered risk factors for ectopic pregnancy.

  1. The mechanism of action for these risk factors is indirect, in that they are markers for the development of sexually transmitted disease, ascending infection, or both.3, 10 Recent technologic improvements have made it possible to diagnose ectopic pregnancy earlier.
  2. This has altered the clinical presentation from that of a life-threatening surgical emergency to a less severe constellation of signs and symptoms.

Historically, the hallmark of ectopic pregnancy has been abdominal pain with spotting, usually occurring six to eight weeks after the last normal menstrual period. This remains the most common presentation of tubal pregnancy in symptomatic patients. Other presentations depend on the location of the ectopic pregnancy.

  1. Less commonly, ectopic pregnancy presents with pain radiating to the shoulder, vaginal bleeding, syncope and/or hypovolemic shock.
  2. Physical findings include a normal or slightly enlarged uterus, pelvic pain with movement of the cervix and a palpable adnexal mass.
  3. Findings such as hypotension and marked abdominal tenderness with guarding and rebound tenderness suggest a leaking or ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Case reports indicate that viable abdominal ectopic pregnancies may be discovered at cesarean section, albeit rarely.13 Between 40 and 50 percent of ectopic pregnancies are misdiagnosed at the initial visit to an emergency department.4, 14 Failure to identify risk factors is cited as a common and significant reason for misdiagnosis.4 A proper history and physical examination remain the foundation for initiating an appropriate work-up that will result in the accurate and timely diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy.

  • Identification of risk factors can raise the index of suspicion and lend significance to otherwise minor physical findings.
  • For example, subtle changes in vital signs, such as mild tachycardia or lower than usual blood pressure, should prompt further investigation.
  • Scoring systems have been proposed to facilitate earlier diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy by indicating the level of risk as a function of weighted risk factors.15 After a careful history and physical examination, ancillary studies may include a urine pregnancy test and determination of the serum progesterone level and serum quantitative β-hCG levels.

Other chemical markers, such as creatine kinase 16, 17 and fetal fibronectin levels, 18 have been investigated and rejected because of inadequate diagnostic sensitivity. The standard urine pregnancy test is 99 percent sensitive and 99 percent specific for pregnancy.

Although used as the initial step in some settings, the urine pregnancy test is a qualitative rather than quantitative measure that identifies the presence of hCG in concentrations as low as 25 mIU per mL. Semiquantitative urine testing is being evaluated and may provide a cost-effective alternative to serum β-hCG testing.19 Historically, serum progesterone levels were obtained concurrently with β-hCG levels.

Some clinicians continue to find progesterone determinations useful. The rationale is that viable intrauterine pregnancies were associated with serum progesterone levels of 11 ng per mL (35 nmol per L) or greater in one study, 20 and levels of 25 ng per mL (80 nmol per L) or greater in another study.12 Corresponding sensitivities were 91 percent at 11 ng per mL 20 and 97.5 percent at 25 ng per mL.12 Although a serum progesterone level of less than 11 ng per mL is indicative of an abnormal pregnancy, the measure does not distinguish between a normal ectopic pregnancy and a failing intrauterine pregnancy.

In addition, ectopic pregnancies are known to occur when the serum progesterone level is greater than 25 ng per mL.21 Consequently, serum β-hCG levels are more often used in conjunction with ultrasonography. The discriminatory zone is the range of serum β-hCG concentrations above which a gestational sac can be visualized consistently.11 Abdominal ultrasonography should consistently detect the gestational sac when the 3 -hCG level is greater than 6,500 mIU per mL (6,500 IU per L).

Absence of an intrauterine gestational sac on abdominal ultrasound in conjunction with a β-hCG level of greater than 6,500 mIU per mL suggests the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. Compared with abdominal ultrasonography, transvaginal ultrasonography diagnoses intrauterine pregnancies an average of one week earlier because it is more sensitive and has a lower discriminatory zone (i.e., a β-hCG level between 1,000 22 and 1,500 mIU per mL ).

An ectopic pregnancy can be suspected if the transvaginal ultrasound examination does not detect an intrauterine gestational sac when the β-hCG level is higher than 1,500 mIU per mL. The literature provides a wide range of sensitivities and specificities for transvaginal ultrasonography in the detection of ectopic pregnancy.

Sensitivities range from 69 to 99 percent, and specificities range from 84 to 99.6 percent.14, 23, 24

You might be interested:  How To Stop Gum Pain Fast?

Can you check for ectopic at 4 weeks?

When ectopic pregnancy symptoms start – The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy may sometimes be difficult, and symptoms may occur from as early as 4 weeks pregnant and up to 12 weeks or even later. In addition, although there are a number of recognised risk factors, in over 50% of women diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, there are no identifiable risk factors.

If your instincts are screaming at you that something does not feel right, it is OK to trust them and ask for reassessment at any time. Please do be vigilant and take any pain that concerns you seriously until absolutely proven otherwise. If you are experiencing any of the following ectopic pregnancy symptoms, please contact your doctor/GP or You can also by dialling 111 or You can contact your out-of-hours doctor/GP service if your normal surgery is closed or go to or Detailed general information can be found here on our website.

Please remember that online medical information is no substitute for expert medical care from your own healthcare team. If you have missed one or more periods, the most likely reason is that you have become pregnant, and it is progressing as it should. However, if you experience typical pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, painful breasts or a swollen abdomen but no bleeding or pain, this does not completely rule out an ectopic pregnancy, although this is rare. Ongoing bleeding that is sometimes red or brown/black and watery (like “prune juice”) should be investigated. The bleeding may be heavier or lighter than usual. Prolonged off/on light and sometimes heavy bleeding are quite often seen in ectopic pregnancy and should always prompt a pregnancy test and if positive should be urgently investigated with an Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) referral. Pregnancy test kits that are available now are very sensitive. They can be positive before you have missed your period. It is sensible to perform the test in the morning when urine contains the most pregnancy hormone (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG).

  1. Very rarely a pregnancy test can give a falsely negative result.
  2. This is usually because the hormone level is low.
  3. If you do a pregnancy test and are surprised by a negative result, repeat the test perhaps with a different pregnancy test kit.
  4. If it is still negative and you still think you are pregnant, your doctor can do a blood test to measure the hCG (pregnancy hormone) levels accurately.

If you are in pain and/or bleeding and your home pregnancy test is negative, but you think it should be positive, ensure you are seen by a doctor urgently by attending your local Accident & Emergency department or by contacting your specialist Early Pregnancy Unit.

  1. The blood test that doctors would perform is for hCG which is a hormone produced in pregnancy.
  2. HCG is commonly detected in urine by using a urinary pregnancy test, which can show as positive or negative.
  3. Blood tests can identify the exact hCG level in the blood.
  4. Your GP can do this test, but it will take a few days to get the result, while the hospital and EPU will have the result in a few hours.

This is why, if you have symptoms and a surprisingly negative urine pregnancy test, it is better to be seen at the hospital. During pregnancy, it is not uncommon to experience a period-like ache in your lower tummy and back. However, the following should be investigated:

One-sided pain in your tummy which may be persistent (which means it continues) or intermittent (which means it comes and goes). The pain may have begun suddenly or been gradual. Discomfort with bloating and a feeling of fullness (not associated with eating) when lying down, particularly if you have already had a child. Significant lower abdominal and/or back pain.

Shoulder tip pain is exactly where it says – not the neck or the back but the tip of your shoulder. If you look to the left over your shoulder and then cast your eyes down, the tip of your shoulder is where your shoulder ends and your arm starts. Shoulder tip pain is very distinctive.

Shoulders cause pain when we are stressed because we hold ourselves more rigidly and muscles in the back and neck go in to spasm or you may have slept in an awkward position – this is most likely not shoulder tip pain related to an ectopic pregnancy.Significant shoulder tip pain tends to develop with other symptoms such as feeling unwell, abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, faintness, abdominal bloating and fullness, or pain when opening your bowels (poo).It is caused by internal bleeding irritating the diaphragm (the muscle in your chest which helps you to breathe) when you breathe in and out.

Diarrhoea Pain when you have your bowels open (go for a poo) Pain when you pass water (have a wee) Shooting/sharp vaginal pain

Some pain and a change in your normal bladder and bowel pattern are features of a typical pregnancy for some. All the same, if you present at your doctor/GP or Early Pregnancy Unit with such symptoms, it would be reasonable to have an early pregnancy assessment.

Feeling light-headed, or faint, or actually fainting Often accompanied by sickness and looking pale Increasing or slowing pulse rate or falling blood pressure may also be present

If you are experiencing these signs of an ectopic pregnancy, with or without tip of the shoulder pain present, please seek medical emergency attention urgently. This may be by calling an ambulance. Ectopic pregnancy pain can be on one side of the tummy, or lower abdomen, or in the pelvic area, or at the tip of the shoulder.

  • Experiencing these pains during early pregnancy may mean that you could be experiencing ectopic pregnancy.
  • Consult an emergency healthcare professional immediately.
  • The risk of ectopic pregnancy is not uncommon – around 1 in 80 pregnancies are ectopic.
  • This is when the fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, most commonly in a Fallopian tube, but other sites can be on an ovary, within a Caesarean section scar, or in the cervix.

It can be difficult to know which symptoms are concerning. Are they symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy or normal pregnancy sensations? If you are at worried, you should seek medical advice. Contact your doctor/GP or local Early Pregnancy Unit for advice.

  1. Your GP will likely refer you to your local Early Pregnancy Unit for an assessment by a healthcare professional.
  2. This may involve a blood test to check hormone levels and/or an ultrasound scan depending on how many weeks pregnant you are and your symptoms.
  3. It is important to remember that normal pregnancy symptoms are common and that not everyone experiencing such symptoms will have an ectopic pregnancy.
You might be interested:  When Will The Pain Stop After Tooth Extraction?

It could still be a viable, healthy pregnancy. However, it is important to be vigilant. If in doubt, seek medical attention and advice from healthcare professionals. If you are experiencing any of the following ectopic pregnancy symptoms, please contact your doctor/GP or your local Early Pregnancy Unit immediately.

Do hCG levels rise with ectopic pregnancy?

Use of β human chorionic gonadotropin measurement – It is important to confirm pregnancy. In the emergency department, pregnancy is diagnosed by determining the urine or serum concentration of β human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG). This hormone is detectable in urine and blood as early as 1 week before an expected menstrual period.

  1. Serum testing detects levels as low as 5 IU/L, whereas urine testing detects levels as low as 20–50 IU/L.22 In most cases, screening is done with a urine test, since obtaining the results of a serum test is time-consuming and is not always possible in the evening and at night.
  2. However, if pregnancy is strongly suspected, even when the urine test has a negative result, serum testing will be definitive.

A single serum measurement of the β-hCG concentration, however, cannot identify the location of the gestational sac. Although women with an ectopic pregnancy tend to have lower β-hCG levels than those with an intrauterine pregnancy, there is considerable overlap ( Table 2 ).23, 24 Table 2 If a low serum β-hCG level (< 1000 IU/L) is associated with a higher relative risk of ectopic pregnancy, then can very low levels predict a benign clinical course? In general, no. Although a single very low serum level (< 100 IU/L) has been felt to be reassuring, in a review of 716 admitted patients with ectopic pregnancy, 29% of those with such a level were found to have tubal rupture at laparoscopy.25 The risk of tubal rupture was similar across a wide range of β-hCG values. Another study identified 38 instances of rupture among women with serum levels ranging from 10 to 189 720 IU/L.7 Thus, a single serum β-hCG measurement cannot exclude ectopic pregnancy or predict the risk of rupture unless it is less than 5 IU/L. Serial β-hCG measurement is often used for women with first-trimester bleeding or pain, or both, but, as with a single measurement, serial measurement cannot confirm the location of the gestational sac. In a normal pregnancy, the first-trimester β-hCG concentration rapidly increases, doubling about every 2 days. An increase over 48 hours of at least 66% has been used as a cutoff point for viability.20, 26, 27 Ectopic pregnancy may present with rising, falling or plateau β-hCG levels; thus, serial measurement is most useful to confirm fetal viability rather than to identify ectopic pregnancy. In a patient with a subnormal increase in β-hCG concentration, nonviability is assumed, and more invasive investigations can be used to clarify the nature of the abnormality (i.e., miscarriage v. ectopic pregnancy). However, over-reliance on the doubling time may result in the interruption of a normal pregnancy through diagnostic dilatation and curettage (D&C) or administration of methotrexate. A recent study identified patients with only a 53% increase in serum β-hCG levels over 2 days who had a viable intrauterine pregnancy.28 Thus, demonstration of normal doubling of serum levels over 48 hours supports a diagnosis of fetal viability but does not rule out ectopic pregnancy, and a rising β-hCG concentration that fails to reach 50% suggests a failing or ectopic pregnancy, as does a plateau. Falling levels confirm nonviability but do not rule out ectopic pregnancy.

What are four 4 expected findings of an ectopic pregnancy?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy? – Ectopic pregnancy can be hard to diagnose because symptoms often are like those of a normal early pregnancy. These can include missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, or frequent urination (peeing).

  • Often, the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are pain or vaginal bleeding.
  • There might be pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder or neck (if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves).
  • The pain can range from mild and dull to severe and sharp.
  • It might be felt on just one side of the pelvis or all over.

These symptoms also might happen with an ectopic pregnancy:

vaginal spotting dizziness or fainting (caused by blood loss) low blood pressure (also caused by blood loss) lower back pain

Where is the most likely place for an ectopic pregnancy to happen?

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg grows outside of the uterus. Almost all ectopic pregnancies—more than 90%—occur in a fallopian tube. As the pregnancy grows, it can cause the tube to burst (rupture). A rupture can cause major internal bleeding.

Where is the most common location for an ectopic pregnancy?

The most common extrauterine location is the fallopian tube, which accounts for 96 percent of all ectopic gestations (picture 1A-B).

Can you feel an ectopic pregnancy right away?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy? – Ectopic pregnancy can be hard to diagnose because symptoms often are like those of a normal early pregnancy. These can include missed periods, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, or frequent urination (peeing).

Often, the first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy are pain or vaginal bleeding. There might be pain in the pelvis, abdomen, or even the shoulder or neck (if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves). The pain can range from mild and dull to severe and sharp. It might be felt on just one side of the pelvis or all over.

These symptoms also might happen with an ectopic pregnancy:

vaginal spotting dizziness or fainting (caused by blood loss) low blood pressure (also caused by blood loss) lower back pain

Can ectopic pregnancy be detected at 4 weeks?

Ectopic pregnancy tests and diagnosis – A pregnancy that’s ectopic is usually diagnosed at about four to six weeks into pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy tests and diagnosis often include:

A pelvic exam, which can pick up an ectopic pregnancy as early as five weeks after your last menstrual period; a wand is placed inside your vagina to check for a developing embryo outside of the uterus.Blood tests to, the hormone made by the placenta that increases during pregnancy. A lower-than-normal increase in hGC levels may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.Other blood tests to check for signs of blood loss

How long can you go without noticing an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy symptoms – Ectopic pregnancy symptoms typically develop around the sixth week of pregnancy. This is about two weeks after a missed period if you have regular periods, However, symptoms may develop at any time between 4 and 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Pain on one side of the lower tummy (abdomen). It may develop sharply, or may slowly get worse over several days. It can become severe.Vaginal bleeding often occurs but not always. It is often different to the bleeding of a period. For example, the bleeding may be heavier or lighter than a normal period. The blood may look darker. However, you may think the bleeding is a late period.Other symptoms may occur such as diarrhoea, feeling faint, or pain on passing poo (a stool).Shoulder-tip pain may develop. This is due to some blood leaking into the abdomen and irritating the muscle used to breathe (the diaphragm).You may feel dizzy or faint.If the Fallopian tube ruptures and causes internal bleeding, you may develop severe pain or ‘collapse’. This is an emergency as the bleeding is heavy.Sometimes there are no warning symptoms (such as pain) before the tube ruptures. Therefore, collapse due to sudden heavy internal bleeding is occasionally the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy.