Ectopic pregnancy: can you test positive?

A home or clinic urine test detects human chorionic gonadotropin, the hormone made after implantation. It does not distinguish a pregnancy in the uterus from one developing in a fallopian tube or another location. A positive result with one-sided pelvic pain, unusual vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, or faintness needs prompt medical assessment. A clinician may compare blood hormone measurements over time and use a transvaginal ultrasound to locate the pregnancy. Pelvic inflammatory disease can affect the fallopian tubes and is one condition your clinician may consider when discussing risk.

Contact a maternity or gynaecology service promptly if you have a positive test and concerning pain or bleeding. Bring the date of your last menstrual period, test results, symptoms, and any history of pelvic inflammatory disease or fallopian-tube surgery. Do not rely on a positive test to confirm a normally placed pregnancy. A clinician may recommend repeat blood tests, a transvaginal ultrasound, observation, medicine, or surgery depending on findings. Read more about Ectopic Pregnancy and Transvaginal Ultrasound.

Seek emergency care immediately for severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain, fainting, marked weakness, shoulder-tip pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, or trouble breathing. These symptoms can signal internal bleeding, even if a home pregnancy test was negative or only faintly positive. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint.

Ask whether you need serial blood tests, when an ultrasound should be repeated, and which symptoms should send you to the emergency department. You can also ask how treatment could affect future pregnancy plans and whether a salpingectomy is relevant to your situation.