Does an ectopic pregnancy hurt in the early stages?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on November 28, 2024
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Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of the gestational sac outside the uterine cavity, with common implantation sites including the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvic cavity. Early ectopic pregnancy can also cause some pain, with common reasons for the pain including the following: First, the main reason is the enlargement of the uterus under the stimulation of estrogen and progesterone in the body, which pulls on the surrounding tissues and ligaments, such as the round ligament of the uterus, uterosacral ligaments, or bilateral adnexa, causing lower abdominal traction pain. This presents as a feeling of heaviness or menstrual-like sensation. This pain is a normal physiological manifestation during early pregnancy and is present in both intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. Second, in early ectopic pregnancy, sometimes the gestational sac can cause mild irritation and pressure on local tissues, leading to mild localized pain, which is often not very noticeable.

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Written by Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How long does it take to detect an ectopic pregnancy and how is an ectopic pregnancy treated?

In normal circumstances, an ectopic pregnancy can usually be detected around 50 days after conception, which corresponds to around 50 days after a missed period, through detailed examinations. However, some women often use pregnancy tests to detect chorionic gonadotropin in their urine. Ectopic pregnancies, which do not show clinical symptoms until a miscarriage or rupture occurs, can easily be overlooked. If one wishes to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, further auxiliary examinations are necessary. For instance, measuring the level of chorionic gonadotropin - levels of this hormone in the case of an ectopic pregnancy are lower than in an intrauterine pregnancy, so it might not be detected in the urine. It would require a more sensitive method, such as a radioimmunoassay, to measure chorionic gonadotropin in the blood. Ultrasound diagnostics can also be extremely helpful for detecting ectopic pregnancies. Generally, whether through abdominal or vaginal ultrasound, if no pregnancy sac is observed in the uterine cavity, it should raise suspicion and prompt further investigation. However, sometimes a pseudo gestational sac may be found in the uterus, leading to the misdiagnosis of an intrauterine pregnancy. Therefore, an ectopic pregnancy requires thorough and meticulous examination, which demands high attention from the patient and professionalism and responsibility from the doctor. If you have further questions, please consult a doctor at a hospital.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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How many days will an ectopic pregnancy bleed?

The timing of bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy does not have a specific timeframe. Most ectopic pregnancies result in irregular vaginal bleeding after the death of the pregnancy tissue. The color of the blood is usually dark red or deep brown, and generally, the amount of bleeding is less than that of a normal menstrual period. However, a minority have heavier bleeding, similar to menstrual flow. Vaginal bleeding may contain decidual cast and fragments, caused by the shedding of the uterine lining. Vaginal bleeding only stops after the removal of the lesion or during conservative treatment when the trophoblastic cells are completely necrotic and absorbed; thus, bleeding from an ectopic pregnancy generally lasts a long time. Anti-inflammatory treatment might be necessary to avoid secondary infections that could affect future pregnancies.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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How to check for an ectopic pregnancy?

The examination for an ectopic pregnancy is divided into two steps, the first step is to confirm whether one is pregnant. Then, pregnancy can be detected either by a pregnancy test strip or the most accurate method, which is through a blood test. Once pregnancy is confirmed, the second step involves an ultrasound examination. A blood test only indicates whether or not one is pregnant, but an ultrasound can specifically determine whether it is an intrauterine pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy. If it is an intrauterine pregnancy, the pregnancy can simply continue. If it is an ectopic pregnancy, surgical or medical treatment is necessary. On an ultrasound, an ectopic pregnancy is indicated by the absence of a gestational sac within the uterine cavity, but a gestational sac or mass is found outside the uterus, which confirms the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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.

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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.