Patient's question:
I am 40 days pregnant. When I first tested positive for pregnancy, I had abdominal pain and diarrhea for two nights. After that, everything was fine. Could it be because I took birth control pills before I didn't know about the ectopic pregnancy? I plan to have a medication abortion. Are there any symptoms that can indicate an ectopic pregnancy without an ultrasound? Am I having an ectopic pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Ectopic pregnancy, also known as tubal pregnancy, refers to a condition where a fertilized egg is implanted and develops outside the uterine cavity, such as in the fallopian tubes, uterine angles, abdomen, ovaries, or other locations, due to certain influencing factors. Because the implantation site is narrow and the wall is thin, 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 symptoms, 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 condition was detected early.
Abdominal pain: This is the main symptom when the fallopian tube is affected, 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. Stimulating the diaphragm may cause radiating pain in the shoulder blades. When fluid accumulates in the pelvis, there may be a sensation of fullness or the urge to defecate, which is very helpful for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy.
Irregular vaginal bleeding: This is usually spotting, dark brown, and minimal, not exceeding the amount of a normal menstrual period. Vaginal bleeding occurs due to the shedding of the endometrium or the discharge of blood from the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity. When abdominal pain is accompanied by vaginal bleeding, it often indicates damage to the embryo. If there is abdominal pain but no vaginal bleeding, it may suggest that the embryo is still viable or that there is an abdominal pregnancy, which should be taken seriously.
Fainting and shock: These are caused by acute bleeding in the abdomen and