What does pelvic pain feel like with ectopic pregnancy?

Pain may sit low in the abdomen or pelvis and can begin gradually or become more intense. It may be felt mainly on one side, although location and severity can vary. Vaginal bleeding, a missed period, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or faintness can occur with it. These symptoms need medical assessment because an ectopic pregnancy is outside the uterus and can become an emergency.

Pelvic pain has many possible causes, so pain alone does not confirm an ectopic pregnancy. If pregnancy is possible, do not wait for the pain to match a particular pattern before seeking advice.

Contact urgent medical services or a pregnancy care service promptly if you have pelvic pain and could be pregnant, even if a home test is negative or bleeding seems light. A clinician may use pregnancy hormone testing and ultrasound to locate the pregnancy and guide next steps.

Avoid driving yourself if you feel faint or weak. Tell the clinician when the pain began, which side hurts, whether bleeding is present and when your last period started.

Call emergency services for sudden severe pelvic or abdominal pain, fainting, severe dizziness, shoulder-tip pain with weakness, or heavy bleeding. These can signal internal bleeding and require immediate care. Do not delay while waiting for a test result.

Could this pain be related to a pregnancy outside the uterus? What tests will locate the pregnancy? Which symptoms mean I should return immediately, and who should I contact day or night if the pain changes?