Ectopic pregnancy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Pelvic laparoscopy

Ultrasound in pregnancy

Female reproductive anatomy

Uterus

Ultrasound, normal fetus - foot

Ectopic pregnancy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Ectopic pregnancy

Alternative Names:

Tubal pregnancy; Cervical pregnancy; Abdominal pregnancy

Symptoms:

Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
Mild cramping on one side of the pelvis
Amenorrhea (missed period)
Abnormal vaginal bleeding (usually spotting)
Breast tenderness
Nausea
Low back pain

If the area of the abnormal pregnancy ruptures and bleeds, symptoms may get worse. They may include:

Severe, sharp, and sudden pain in the lower abdominal area
Feeling faint or actually fainting
Referred pain to the shoulder area

Internal bleeding due to a rupture may lead to shock. This is the first symptom of nearly 20% of ectopic pregnancies.

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a pelvic exam, which may reveal tenderness in the pelvic area. A pregnancy test is usually positive (says you are pregnant).

Tests that may be done include:

Hematocrit (may be normal or high)
White blood count (may be normal or high)
Culdocentesis (to check for blood in the pelvic/abdomen area)
Transvaginal ultrasound or pregnancy ultrasound (shows an empty uterus)

A laparoscopy, laparotomy, or D and C may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

An ectopic pregnancy may affect the results of a serum progesterone test.

References:

Jian Z, Linan C. Ectopic gestation following emergency contraception with levonorgestrel. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2003 Dec;8(4):225-8.

Sheffer-Mimouni G, Pauzner D, Maslovitch S, Lessing JB, Gamzu R. Contraception. 2003 Apr;67(4):267-9.

Nielsen CL, Miller L. Ectopic gestation following emergency contraceptive pill administration. Contraception. 2000 Nov;62(5):275-6.

Furlong LA. Ectopic pregnancy risk when contraception fails. A review. J Reprod Med. 2002 Nov;47(11):881-5. Review.

Review Date: 5/15/2006
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.