Ectopic Pregnancy

One of the main complications in early pregnancy is ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg implants itself somewhere other than in the uterine lining. The majority of the time, the egg will implant itself in the fallopian tubes, which is why ectopic pregnancies are also known as tubal pregnancies. However, the egg may also implant itself in the ovary, cervix or abdomen. Ectopic pregnancies never result in a live birth.

When the fertilized egg begins to grow in the wrong place, it can cause the organ in which it has implanted itself to burst. This is what makes ectopic pregnancies potentially life threatening for the women that have them. But they don't have to be. Recognizing the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy early on can not only help save your life, but it can also decrease your risk of scarring and future fertility problems.

Signs and Symptoms

Unfortunately, some of the main ectopic pregnancy symptoms are similar to the signs of a regular pregnancy, making it easy to ignore the potential red flags. The most common symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are:

• a late period
  
• unusual vaginal bleeding (unusual color, flow, or consistency)
  
• a positive pregnancy test
  
• fainting, lightheadedness, or dizziness
  
• pain in your lower abdominal
  
• shoulder pain
  
• bladder or bowel pain
  

Feeling sharp, stabbing pain, especially in your abdomen, is a big warning sign that you may be having an ectopic pregnancy. If you experience a combination of any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your health care provider as soon as you can and ask them to test you for an ectopic pregnancy.

Diagnosing an Ectopic Pregnancy

Although the rates of ectopic pregnancy are on the rise, more and more health care providers are screening their female patients for ectopic pregnancies. This means that more women can be diagnosed and treated earlier, resulting in fewer deaths from this complication.

If you do not already have a confirmed pregnancy, your health care provider will offer you a urine pregnancy test. If this comes up positive, a blood test will be ordered to measure your levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). Based on the date of your last menstrual period, the approximate length of your pregnancy and appropriate hCG levels can be assumed. HCG levels in an ectopic pregnancy tend not to rise as quickly as they would in a regular pregnancy. If your bloods tests show that your hCG levels are lower than they should be, there is a very good chance you are experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.

Your health care provider will probably also do a pelvic exam to see if there are any signs of pregnancy. She or he will also be checking for anything that seems unusual. Alternatively, an ultrasound can also be used to check for and confirm an ectopic pregnancy. However, getting an accurate visual diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy is not always easy.