Patient's question:
What is ectopic pregnancy? If so, how should it be handled?Doctor's answer:
Ectopic pregnancy, also known as tubal pregnancy, refers to a condition where a fertilized egg is affected by certain factors and implants and develops outside the uterine cavity, such as in the fallopian tubes, uterine angles, abdomen, ovaries, and other locations. Due to the narrowness and thinness of the implantation site, it cannot fully expand to accommodate the growth and development of the embryo, making it easy for the embryo to penetrate the wall and cause severe bleeding by damaging blood vessels. Ectopic pregnancy often has a sudden onset and severe symptoms. If not properly treated, it can be life-threatening. Therefore, women of childbearing age should pay attention to distinguishing the following conditions:Menstrual delay: Most patients have a brief history of menstrual delay before the onset of symptoms, usually around 6 weeks. However, some patients may not experience a delay because the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) produced by the trophoblast tissue may not be sufficient to maintain the endometrium, or due to early onset, the pathological bleeding may be mistaken for menstruation, leading to the belief that there is no menstrual delay.
Abdominal pain: This is the main symptom when the fallopian tube is damaged, with an incidence rate of 95%. It is often sudden, sharp, tearing, or intermittent pain on one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Stimulation of the diaphragm may cause radiating pain in the shoulder blades. When there is fluid accumulation in the pelvis, there may be a sensation of fullness and the need to defecate, which is very helpful for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy.
Irregular vaginal bleeding: This is usually light, dark brown, and minimal, not exceeding the amount of a normal menstrual period. Vaginal bleeding occurs due to the shedding of the endometrium or bleeding from the fallopian tube being discharged into the uterine cavity. Abdominal pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding often indicates damage to the embryo. Abdominal pain without vaginal bleeding may suggest that the embryo is still surviving or that there is an abdominal pregnancy, and should be approached with caution.
Fainting and shock: These are caused by acute bleeding in the abdomen and severe pain.