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Don’t endanger your future reproductive health, your life, or the life of your fetus. Here’s a primer on what you need to know about ectopic pregnancy, its symptoms, and risks, whether you can detect it on a pregnancy test, and more.
When a fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus, it’s considered an ectopic pregnancy.
The Cleveland Clinic notes, “The egg is meant to travel down your fallopian tube and embed itself into the wall of your uterus, where it can develop. In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg implants in one of the structures along the way.”
Sometimes the fertilized egg attaches to the ovary, the abdominal cavity, or the cervix, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most often in ectopic pregnancies, however, the zygote, the fertilized egg, attaches itself to the fallopian tube. It can’t survive outside the nurturing environment of the uterus. If left untreated, the tissue will grow. An ectopic pregnancy may cause a fallopian tube to burst, causing internal bleeding that can be fatal.
Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is one that is growing in the wrong place. While normally the baby grows inside the uterus, an ectopic pregnancy can be in the fallopian tube, ovary, cervix, or the abdominal cavity. Since ectopic pregnancies in the fallopian tube are much more common than in other locations these are the symptoms you should look out for:
If your ectopic pregnancy has ruptured, you will likely have blood in your abdominal cavity that may cause:
Will It Show Up On A Pregnancy Test?
In a typical pregnancy, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in urine signals a positive result on home pregnancy tests, which are about 98%-99% accurate.
Although rare, ectopic pregnancies can sometimes result in a false negative on a home pregnancy test due to lower levels of hCG compared to a normal pregnancy. These hormone levels tend to rise more quickly in a healthy pregnancy than in an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy can usually be detected through blood tests, ultrasounds, and more sophisticated testing
A number of factors can increase your risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, including being over 35, STIs, tubal ligation, a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), being a smoker or former smoker, IVF treatment, and certain kinds of birth control, such as IUDs, and progestin only oral contraceptives. PID is commonly thought to be the leading cause of an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies account for about 2% of all pregnancies, according to the National Institutes of Health. Talk with your health care provider about your risk levels.
Since 1986, Alcove Health has provided services, advocacy, and support for more than 5,000 women in the Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, and York County communities. With our free, confidential services, women can count on evidence-based medical information to make the best decisions for their reproductive health.
An ectopic pregnancy can cause serious complications or even death. If you suspect an ectopic pregnancy, go to the Emergency Department immediately. Otherwise, please book an appointment today, or fill out this short form and someone from Alcove will call you back. Our nurses are here to provide compassionate support and reliable medical services to help you navigate your options.
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Getting Ready For Your Visit
At Alcove Health, our goal is to ensure your experience is both comforting and enlightening. There’s no need to bring any form of payment to your appointment; all our services are offered at no cost. We welcome you to bring any questions you may have and maintain an open mindset. Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with comprehensive support and information, guiding you through your choices in a respectful and unbiased setting. We understand an unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming, we’re here to help.
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Fear of childbirth is common and affects many women. It’s normal to have an occasional worry or momentary fear about pregnancy or childbirth. But if the thoughts are overwhelming and making you feel extreme stress or anxiety, there are some ways to combat your fear. Read on to learn some helpful suggestions!
At-Home Abortions comprise most of the abortions done in the U.S these days. They are marketed as a safe and convenient way to terminate a pregnancy, but there are some additional facts you should know.
One of the important requirements is that the patient be fully informed and counseled on all the risks and side effects of these medications. Part of being fully informed is the need to rule out an ectopic pregnancy before beginning the abortion.
A positive pregnancy test may make you feel like you should immediately start looking for an abortion provider, but you should actually STI test first.
You need two medical services prior to beginning any abortion procedure: an ultrasound and STI testing. Both services help you protect your reproductive health!
Self-care is a set of intentional actions or practices that you can participate in that are meant to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Self-care helps reduce stress, improve health, and increase feelings of happiness.
