Patient's question:
Planning to get pregnant with my husband, I haven't had my period for several months. I took a pregnancy test and, if there are no surprises, it seems I'm successfully pregnant. Since it's my first pregnancy, I'm a bit nervous. I've seen online that some people only discover they have an ectopic pregnancy after being pregnant for a long time, which makes me a bit worried. How can one check for ectopic pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
For ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy test cannot definitively diagnose it. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes. Since the fallopian tubes have a relatively narrow lumen, ectopic pregnancy often results in rupture or miscarriage within 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy, and it is rare for the pregnancy to persist for three months. For ectopic pregnancy, the main diagnostic method is an ultrasound examination to determine how the embryonic tissue is located within the uterine cavity. This can be combined with blood hCG testing for a more accurate diagnosis. The definitive diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is typically made through a posterior vaginal cul-de-sac puncture, where blood is extracted without coagulation, confirming the diagnosis.