Ectopic pregnancy characteristics

Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Lower unilateral abdominal pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, and even after 50 days of pregnancy, the ultrasound still does not show the gestational sac implanted in the uterine cavity. An ultrasound can be used to understand the size and location of the gestational sac. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are often atypical. Some patients may experience shock due to heavy bleeding, with pale complexion and a drop in blood pressure. It is important to hospitalize timely for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy to prevent life-threatening severe bleeding. In cases of ectopic pregnancy, blood hCG levels may not increase.

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Written by Liu Qin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
51sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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ectopic pregnancy symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy is not a normal state of pregnancy. Normally, the gestational sac should be located in the middle of the uterine cavity. An ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of the gestational sac outside the uterine cavity. Common types of ectopic pregnancy include tubal pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, and abdominal pregnancy, with over 99% of ectopic pregnancies being tubal pregnancies. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include the following aspects: 1. In the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, there are no clinical symptoms because the early gestational sac is relatively small and does not stimulate the fallopian tube or the local area, thus causing no symptoms. 2. When the gestational sac grows to a certain size, it compresses the tube cavity, causing mild abdominal pain. This pain intensifies as the gestational sac grows and can lead to tearing pain, indicating a ruptured tubal pregnancy. 3. During an ectopic pregnancy, because the gestational sac cannot develop normally, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body are relatively low, leading to endometrial withdrawal bleeding, which manifests as a small amount of bright red vaginal bleeding.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Ectopic pregnancy surgery, how many days to discharge?

As everyone's physique and condition are different, the specific needs vary from person to person. Clinically, most people can be discharged in about 7 days. Women must pay attention to bed rest after ectopic pregnancy surgery, avoid vigorous exercise, and only shower with the doctor’s approval, avoiding baths. It is important to maintain personal hygiene, wear loose underwear, change frequently, and avoid sexual activity for the time being. Attention should also be paid to diet; avoid spicy and irritating foods, favoring a light diet instead. It is vital to identify ectopic pregnancy early and take timely treatment measures to not miss the best treatment window.

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Written by Liu Qin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Causes of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, among which tubal pregnancy is the most common type, accounting for about 95% of ectopic pregnancies. There are many causes of ectopic pregnancy, with the main cause being inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The inflammation can cause the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube to become sticky, narrowing the lumen of the tube, or impairing the function of the cilia inside the tube, leading to obstruction of the fertilized egg's movement within the tube and resulting in implantation at that location. Other causes include surgery on the fallopian tubes, poor development or abnormal function of the fallopian tubes, further development of assisted reproductive technologies, and the use of emergency contraceptive pills, also known as contraceptive failure, among others. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)