Possible ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the main cavity of the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. Early symptoms can include one-sided lower-abdominal or pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or fainting. Pelvic inflammatory disease can damage the tubes and increase risk, but symptoms alone cannot confirm the diagnosis.

Clinicians may use pregnancy-hormone blood tests and a transvaginal ultrasound. Very early pregnancy may require repeat testing because the location is not always visible at the first scan.

If pregnancy is possible and you have pain or bleeding, contact a maternity or emergency service promptly. Do not rely on a home test or wait for symptoms to settle. Assessment may lead to careful observation, medicine, or surgery depending on the scan, symptoms and test results. Surgery such as salpingectomy may be discussed when a tube has ruptured or treatment needs to be immediate.

Call emergency services for sudden severe abdominal pain, fainting, marked weakness, heavy bleeding, shoulder-tip pain with dizziness, or trouble breathing. These can signal internal bleeding. Keep your phone nearby, avoid driving if you feel faint, and tell clinicians that pregnancy is possible.

Ask when your next blood test or ultrasound is needed, what change in pain or bleeding should prompt immediate help, and which treatment is suitable if the pregnancy is ectopic. If surgery is discussed, ask about recovery, future fertility and follow-up pregnancy testing.