Ectopic pregnancy


ectopic pregnancy early symptoms
First, there will be a cessation of menstruation, followed by a brief period of amenorrhea, and then irregular vaginal bleeding will occur. This vaginal bleeding is usually light and droplet-like, and the color is dark red. Additionally, most women will experience pain on one side of the lower abdomen, which manifests as a distension pain. At this time, because the ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube has not ruptured, the enlarging embryo causes the fallopian tube to expand, leading to spasms of the tube, and thus these symptoms occur. If the condition continues to progress, the fallopian tube may rupture, resulting in acute and severe pain on one side of the lower abdomen.


Can you have sexual intercourse with an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy refers to the embryo implanting outside the uterine cavity, with the vast majority being tubal pregnancies. Generally, intercourse is not recommended during an ectopic pregnancy. Firstly, during the treatment of an ectopic pregnancy, intercourse is inappropriate. If sexual activity occurs during an ectopic pregnancy, the movements are often too vigorous, and the emotions too intense, which is not conducive to the recovery of the body from an ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, it can easily stimulate the rupture of the ectopic mass, potentially leading to substantial intra-abdominal bleeding. Secondly, even after successful treatment of an ectopic pregnancy, such as post-surgery, it is also advised not to engage in sexual intercourse in the short term. This is because the body is generally weaker after ectopic pregnancy treatment and needs some time to recover before engaging in intercourse. It is generally recommended to wait until about a month after an ectopic pregnancy treatment, or until a menstrual cycle has passed, before engaging in sexual intercourse. However, it is crucial to use contraception during intercourse, as it is advised not to get pregnant again shortly after an ectopic pregnancy. Typically, it is recommended to consider pregnancy again after six months.


Early symptoms of ectopic pregnancy
The early symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, where the pregnancy test shows implantation outside the uterine cavity, indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Depending on the type of ectopic pregnancy, whether there is a miscarriage at the site where the fertilized egg attaches, or whether there is a rupture, as well as the timing, duration, and volume of bleeding, the clinical manifestations can vary. In early tubal pregnancies, if there is no miscarriage or rupture, there are generally no specific clinical symptoms, meaning there is neither abdominal pain nor vaginal bleeding. However, as the condition progresses, some typical symptoms may appear, beginning with the cessation of menstruation. Then, abdominal pain may occur. If there is no rupture, the pain or soreness is typically localized to one side of the lower abdomen. If a rupture occurs, tearing pain will be followed by lower abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, and rebound pain, potentially leading to a shock state.


Ectopic pregnancy abdominal pain symptoms
Let's first discuss what an ectopic pregnancy is. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, such as in any part of the fallopian tubes, the corners of the uterus, or the abdominal cavity. Due to the different implantation sites, the symptoms of abdominal pain vary. A very small number of people feel no symptoms at all, experiencing only vaginal bleeding. Additionally, some people may feel severe discomfort in the abdomen. The last type involves severe, intense abdominal pain, resembling a tearing sensation, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and hypotension shock.


Ectopic pregnancy starts to cause abdominal pain at how many weeks?
Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of the gestational sac outside the uterus, with over 95% of ectopic pregnancies being tubal pregnancies. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include lower abdominal pain, vaginal spotting, and shock. In many cases, there are no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy. This is because the gestational sac is relatively small, causing less irritation locally and not leading to significant abdominal pain. However, if the ectopic pregnancy grows significantly, it can irritate the fallopian tube and also stimulate the peritoneum, causing abdominal pain. Around five weeks, significant pain can be felt, but as the pregnancy progresses, this pain can increase in severity and may lead to rupture of the tubal pregnancy, causing hemorrhagic shock, which then necessitates emergency medical intervention.


Does an ectopic pregnancy hurt?
Ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy experience. It is defined as the implantation and development of pregnancy tissue outside of the uterus, often leading to rupture and bleeding. Thus, over 95% of ectopic pregnancies result in pain. The majority of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, where the pregnancy tissue develops and the tube may rupture. However, some individuals may not be sensitive to pain, and if the ectopic pregnancy occurs at the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube, they might not experience pain, though they may still feel discomfort in the lower abdomen. Diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy requires a combination of ultrasound, progesterone, HCG levels, and the presence or absence of abdominal pain or bleeding.


Is the probability of ectopic pregnancy high?
Ectopic pregnancy, as the name implies, refers to the implantation of the fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, not within the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies most commonly occur in the fallopian tubes, accounting for about 95% of cases. Ectopic pregnancy is one of the common emergencies in gynecology and obstetrics, but its incidence is actually not high, approximately 2%-3%. However, because ectopic pregnancy is a leading cause of death in early pregnancies, it is quite alarming. In recent years, however, with the advancement of ultrasound technology, ectopic pregnancies are being diagnosed and treated earlier, significantly enhancing the survival rates and the ability to preserve fertility.


How long does it take for an ectopic pregnancy to bleed?
Ectopic pregnancy test strips indicate that the gestational sac is implanted outside the uterine cavity, with the most common type being a tubal pregnancy. The bleeding caused by a tubal pregnancy includes two types: vaginal bleeding and intra-abdominal bleeding. Firstly, the vaginal bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy mainly occurs because the gestational sac lacks a normal developmental environment, with relatively low levels of estrogen and progesterone. This leads to insufficient endometrial proliferation, resulting in regressive bleeding. Typically, vaginal bleeding appears around the fifth week of an ectopic pregnancy, but the amount of bleeding is generally small. Secondly, if the gestational sac in an ectopic pregnancy is relatively large, it can cause the local rupture of the fallopian tube, leading to intra-abdominal bleeding. This usually occurs around the seventh to eighth week of pregnancy. If the gestational sac is too small, even if there is mild abdominal pain, it will not cause intra-abdominal bleeding.


What should I do about an ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy, as the name suggests, refers to the implantation of the gestational sac outside the uterine cavity, with the more common types including tubal pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, and abdominal pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is mainly diagnosed through ultrasound and blood tests. If an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed or highly suspected, treatment should begin, primarily choosing between conservative medication treatment or surgical treatment based on the severity of the condition. 1. If the condition is mild, with HCG levels less than 1000 U/L and the mass volume smaller than 3 cm, conservative medication treatment can be chosen. 2. If the condition is severe, with a larger mass volume and significantly elevated HCG levels, surgical treatment is recommended. Currently, with the advancement of minimally invasive surgery, the majority of ectopic pregnancies can be treated using laparoscopy.


How to Self-Diagnose an Ectopic Pregnancy
Generally, ectopic pregnancy can be ruled out through one's own symptoms and signs. Firstly, through one's own clinical symptoms, if pregnancy has been confirmed by a urinary pregnancy test and the patient does not experience abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or other such conditions, but does experience significant early pregnancy reactions like nausea and vomiting, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is small. It can generally be judged to be an intrauterine pregnancy. However, self-diagnosis is not very accurate, and ultimately, it depends on an ultrasound to see the intrauterine gestational sac to confirm whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy. Therefore, the most scientific method is to go to the hospital for an ultrasound and have a blood test for HCG. This method is more scientifically accurate. If an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, surgical treatment must be pursued immediately as it can be life-threatening.