How do you know if you have an ectopic pregnancy?

Answer 1

Most common symptom would be pain or tenderness in one side of the lower abdomen. Some women have bleeding and cramping, too. Symptoms usually appear around 4-7 weeks of the pregnancy.

I worried with all my pregnancies about ectopic symptoms but they can sometimes be confused with the common cramps and pain that go along with a normal pregnancy.

When you have shoulder pain, that's a pretty sure sign of ectopic pregnancy and rupture. But I would still report any persistent pain, bleeding or cramping to your doctor or midwife.

Answer 2

i had an ectopic rupture in my tube and let me tell you that it is not FUN. After two blood transfusions and a week in the hospital....I survived.

You can do a pregnancy test and it will show positive because the body is still going to produce hormones as if it were a viable pregnancy. Often you will have severe cramping (I ignored mine). If you have had a previous ectopic it puts you at a higher rate for them in the future.

If you are in doubt at all....call the OBGYN tomorrow. You do not want to fool around with that.

Answer 3

Usually severe pain , passing out etc. Confirmed through ultra sound. If you are asking this because you are having pain in one side or the other .... You may have an ovarian cyst. Early in pregnancy the placenta has not formed and an ovarian cyst is developed to provide hormones and what not to the fetus. Some women are more sensitive to this and feel pain. Once the placenta developes the cyst goes away. An ultrasound can determine if this is the case. When I had my 3 children each one I felt a pinching , cramping pain near my left ovary and every time it was the cyst that had developed.

Answer 4

I read the previous answers, but no one mentioned what I also experienced: I bled off and on, almost as if I were trying to have a period. For almost two months, I thought I was undergoing some kind of stress which was interfering with a normal period. It was spotting, more than anything. I talked to my physician's assistant, and suggested it myself. About three days later, she called to suggest I go in the hospital. I had a lot of pain and tenderness in the abdomen, and then about two days later, I almost passed out. Luckily, my older daughter got my call, heard how awful I sounded, and insisted I go to the hospital. She drove me to the ER.

Answer 5

There will usually be a lot of pain in that area - enough to make you go to the hospital. You won't know for sure until they do an ultrasound, but you will know that something is wrong.