What should you know about missed ectopic pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube. Early symptoms can be mild, absent or confused with normal early pregnancy changes. A pregnancy test confirms pregnancy but does not show where it is located. Assessment may include hormone tests and a transvaginal ultrasound, sometimes repeated when the findings are not yet clear.

Pelvic pain is a common presentation of ectopic pregnancy, but symptoms vary. Previous pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal surgery or another issue affecting the tubes can be relevant history; many people will not know a cause.

If you are pregnant or might be pregnant and have one-sided pelvic pain, unusual bleeding or shoulder-tip pain, contact a pregnancy or emergency service promptly. Tell them when your last period was, whether a pregnancy test was positive and where the pain is located.

Treatment depends on the pregnancy’s size and location, symptoms, examination and test results. Options may include close monitoring, medicine or surgery. A salpingectomy is an operation to remove a fallopian tube and may be considered when the affected tube cannot safely be preserved.

Call emergency services or go to an emergency department for sudden or severe abdominal pain, fainting, collapse, intense dizziness, shoulder-tip pain, marked weakness or heavy bleeding. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint. These symptoms can signal internal bleeding, even when vaginal bleeding is light.

Ask where the pregnancy is located, what the ultrasound and blood tests show, when results will be reviewed and which symptoms mean you should return immediately. If surgery is discussed, ask what will happen to each fallopian tube and how follow-up will be arranged.