Patient's question:
One of my fallopian tubes was removed, and the other underwent a "minimally invasive surgery" for an ectopic pregnancy. I don't know how well it has recovered now, but I'm now suspecting another ectopic pregnancy. Is there a better method than ultrasound to confirm this?Doctor's answer:
Hello: 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, etc. 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 occurs suddenly and is a serious condition. Improper treatment 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 the disease, usually around 6 weeks. However, some patients may mistake pathological bleeding for menstruation due to insufficient human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) produced by the trophoblast tissue or because the onset was early.
Abdominal pain: This is the main symptom of fallopian tube pregnancy rupture, with an incidence rate of 95%. It is often sudden, sharp, or intermittent pain on one side of the lower abdomen, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Stimulating the diaphragm may cause radiating pain in the shoulder blades. When there is fluid accumulation in the pelvis, a sensation of fullness and the urge to defecate in the rectum may occur, which is very helpful for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy.
Irregular vaginal bleeding: This is usually spotting, dark brown, and light in amount, not exceeding the volume of a normal menstrual period. Vaginal bleeding is caused by the shedding of the endometrium or the discharge of blood from the fallopian tubes 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