Patient's question:
My period has been delayed for more than ten days. I took a pregnancy test and the test paper showed that I am pregnant. Today, I heard from a friend that there are more and more cases of ectopic pregnancy. I was very worried after hearing this. Here, I would like to consult an expert: How is ectopic pregnancy detected?Doctor's answer:
The careful examination for ectopic pregnancy requires an obstetric MRI to detect a blastocyst or a gestational sac outside the uterine cavity, or to identify fetal heartbeat. In early ectopic pregnancy, the pregnant woman typically shows no symptoms. Only a small number of cases may experience vaginal bleeding or mild abdominal pain. If an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, the woman will experience severe lower abdominal pain, followed by palpitations, fatigue, cold sweat, and symptoms of shock. If a woman with a missed period exhibits these symptoms, she should seek immediate medical attention to promptly rule out ectopic pregnancy.