Ectopic pregnancy sign symptom.What is an ectopic pregnancy? Ectopic pregnancy, sometimes called tubal pregnancy, occurs about once in every 100 pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy happens when implantation of the embryo occurs outside the uterine cavity, usually in the Fallopian tube. It can also occur on the ovary, in the entrance to the tube, at the point the tube joins the uterus and at the mouth of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy is serious because heavy bleeding may result when it ruptures. I'm 8 weeks' pregnant and have pain on my side where I think my ovary is. Could it be an ectopic pregnancy? It isn't unusual to have mild pain early in pregnancy from a cyst on the ovary or stretching of the uterus or ligaments. It probably isn't an ectopic pregnancy, but if the pain is bad enough to cause you concern, call your doctor. What factors increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy? The following factors can increase your risk for an ectopic pregnancy: - pelvic infections (PID or pelvic inflammatory disease)
- previous ruptured appendix
- previous ectopic pregnancy
- surgery on your Fallopian tubes (such as reversal of a tubal ligation)
- use of an IUD
Research has shown that chlamydia infection may be linked to ectopic pregnancy. One report showed 70% of the women they studied who had an ectopic pregnancy also had a chlamydia infection before they became pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant, you may want to be screened for this STD, which is easily treated. How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed? Diagnosis can be difficult and may require a couple of tests and some waiting. Tests include ultrasound, quantitative HCG s and laparoscopy (a visual examination inside the abdomen). Even with these tests, it may be a few days or weeks before your doctor can make a definite diagnosis. Are there any symptoms with an ectopic pregnancy? Yes; symptoms include abdominal pain and bleeding from the vagina. It may be confused with appendicitis, the flu or a bladder infection. I've had some pain and bleeding, and my doctor is concerned about an ectopic pregnancy. Yesterday I had a quantitative HCG, and I'm supposed to have another one tomorrow. What is a quantitative HCG? A quantitative HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a special pregnancy test done with your blood. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy; it increases very rapidly early in pregnancy. A regular pregnancy test, using blood or urine, gives you a positive or negative ("yes" or "no") answer. A quantitative HCG assigns a number to tell how pregnant you are. The numbers aren't exact, but in a normal pregnancy they increase in a certain way. A quantitative HCG can help your doctor decide if your pregnancy is normal. This test is not used in normal pregnancies but can be very helpful when you are concerned about a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. If I have an ectopic pregnancy, will a pregnancy test be positive? Yes. The hormones produced with an ectopic pregnancy still make your pregnancy test positive. If I have an ectopic pregnancy, what can my doctor do for me? Many ectopic pregnancies result in re absorption of the embryo before the tube ruptures. The woman may never know she was pregnant. If you are diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, you may be treated with methotrexate (medication), but often surgery is necessary to correct the problem, which results in loss of the pregnancy.
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