Patient's question:
You recently had unprotected sex with your boyfriend, and you've been experiencing nausea again. However, a pregnancy test came back negative. Could you please consult a doctor? Is this a case of ectopic pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
The test paper may not show pregnancy due to the possibility of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the normal location, so the test paper cannot detect it. It is recommended to go to the hospital for a check-up. Generally, a test paper may not be able to detect pregnancy after a missed period of more than 10 days. It is advisable to wait until the missed period is 35 days before testing urine for HCG, as the probability of detection is higher at this stage. Currently, the probability of ectopic pregnancy is considered relatively high, which may be due to an adnexal cyst. It is recommended to carefully observe symptoms. If the missed period is 40 days, an ultrasound can be performed to locate the gestational sac and rule out the possibility of ectopic pregnancy.