Patient's question:
Doctor, my period is delayed by more than 10 days, nearly 20 days, and I also feel uncomfortable in my breasts and nipples. My lower abdomen hurts a bit (slightly on the left side). Could this situation indicate a possible ectopic pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy:Menstrual Delay: Most patients have a brief menstrual delay before the onset of symptoms, usually around 6 weeks. However, some patients may mistake pathological bleeding for a normal menstrual period because the human chorionic gonadotropin produced by the trophoblast tissue is insufficient to maintain the endometrium, or because the condition develops early. In such cases, there may be no history of menstrual delay.
Abdominal Pain: This is the primary symptom during the rupture of a tubal pregnancy, with an incidence rate of 95%. It is often sudden, sharp, or intermittent pain on one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. When the diaphragm is stimulated, radiating pain may occur in the scapular region. When fluid accumulates in the pelvis, a sensation of fullness and the urge to defecate in the rectum may arise, which is very helpful for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy.