Patient's question:
My wife is already pregnant, but she is very afraid it might be an ectopic pregnancy, so she wants to ask how long does it take for an ectopic pregnancy to show symptoms?Doctor's answer:
I'm glad to help you with your question. In the early stages of ectopic pregnancy, there is no difference from normal pregnancy. During the examination, the hCG level will also significantly decrease. However, when a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is performed after 40 days of pregnancy, the gestational sac cannot be found within the uterine cavity. If it is still not found after another week, ectopic pregnancy should be considered. The most common location for ectopic pregnancy is the fallopian tube, where the gestational sac can be detected. Alternatively, if severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding occur during pregnancy, an MRI examination can also confirm ectopic pregnancy.