In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants into the lining of your uterus. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg grows in the wrong place outside of the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies are a serious health risk requiring urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy
Women with an ectopic pregnancy will still get a positive pregnancy test result. They may feel the usual pregnancy symptoms like a missed period or breast tenderness, but there won’t be anything out of the ordinary.
However, an ectopic pregnancy cannot continue to grow normally. It always ends in pregnancy loss.
Depending on where the pregnancy implants, a woman may begin to experience the following symptoms:
- Light vaginal bleeding
- Pelvic pain
- Shoulder pain
- An urge to have a bowel movement
As the fertilized egg continues to grow, she may experience severe abdominal pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding, extreme lightheadedness, fainting, and even shock.
Who Has an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Any woman can have an ectopic pregnancy. The risk is higher for the following women:
- Over the age of 35
- Smokers
- Having more than one sex partner puts them at risk for an STD, causing inflammation or infection
- Other medical conditions
How Does an Ectopic Pregnancy Get Diagnosed?
To diagnose if a pregnancy is ectopic, a woman should have an ultrasound exam. Ultrasound locates the pregnancy to determine if it is in the uterus or somewhere else.
How Does it Get Treated?
As the embryo continues to grow, it can cause severe internal bleeding, particularly if it lodges in the fallopian tube and the tube bursts. An ectopic pregnancy can even lead to death.
Once diagnosed, a healthcare provider can use medicine to stop the embryo’s growth or surgery to remove it.
Get Free Pregnancy Services from Oasis Women’s Services
Whether you know you’re pregnant or suspect you are, come to Oasis Women’s Services for free pregnancy testing, a limited ultrasound exam, and STD testing. Get started with free lab-quality pregnancy testing. We’ll schedule you for a free ultrasound if the test is positive.
We can also test you for an STD. Testing for a sexually transmitted disease is vital to avoid an infection that can lead to an ectopic pregnancy.
Contact us to schedule your appointment. Your health and safety are important to us. Take advantage of our free and confidential services.