Ectopic pregnancy also called extrauterine pregnancy, is when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside a woman’s main cavity of the uterus. More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, giving it the name, tubular pregnancy. In rare cases, an ectopic pregnancy may occur in other areas of the reproductive system such as the ovary, abdominal cavity, or cervix. The fertilized egg in an ectopic pregnancy cannot survive and hence the pregnancy cannot proceed normally. Signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy may appear as the fertilized egg begins to grow in an inappropriate place. Symptoms become more prominent as the embryo grows and bleeding occurs from the expelling of blood through the fallopian tube opening or from tubal rupture. The best abortion clinic in Chennai offers the utmost care in the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancies.
Is it important to be aware of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?
Ectopic pregnancy can occur in any sexually active woman irrespective of using contraceptives or having undergone tubal sterilization and hence the need for awareness. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy may develop at any time between 4 and 10 weeks of pregnancy, even before the woman may be aware of the pregnancy. Such examples are seen in women with irregular periods or using contraception and not realizing it has failed. Symptoms can also start about the same time as a period is due. In many cases, initial symptoms may be mistaken as just a late period.
Early common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy
women may not have any symptoms at first. An ectopic pregnancy may be symptomless until an early scan reveals it or more serious symptoms develop later. Usual symptoms of pregnancy such as a missed period, breast tenderness, and nausea are the first symptoms even in ectopic pregnancy. A pregnancy test result will be positive. Typically, common early signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:
–Abdominal pain is the single most consistent feature of ectopic pregnancy. Abdominal pain in ectopic pregnancy is often located low down on one side of the body. It can develop suddenly or gradually and may be persistent or intermittent. If the woman expects to be pregnant, abdominal pain could be an early symptom of ectopic pregnancy.
–Vaginal bleeding is usually different from a regular period. Bleeding in ectopic pregnancy is usually watery, dark brown in color. It often starts and stops, and may continue longer than a normal period.
–A missed menstrual period, breast tenderness, frequent urination, or nausea which are the normal pregnancy signs in combination with pain and bleeding could be indicative symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.
It is suggested that a woman should seek medical advice from abortion doctors in Chennai on experiencing the above classic combination of symptoms in order to avoid complications. On the other hand, it is possible to have an ectopic pregnancy without any of the above symptoms but one or more of the other symptoms that are rare.
Less common symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include:
– Back pain
– Shoulder tip pain is felt as an unusual pain over the point where the shoulder ends and the arm begins. This pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy causing some internal bleeding.
– Bowel and bladder problems, such as rectal pressure, pain when defecating or urinating and at times diarrhea may occur.
– Women who have had a child may be able to differentiate a feeling of fullness when lying down that is not associated with eating.
Symptoms of a rupture in ectopic pregnancy
In unnoticed cases of an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo can grow large enough to rupture and split open the fallopian tube. Ruptures are very serious causing morbidity and mortality. Immediate medical attention is necessary. The best abortion clinic in Chennai offers emergency treatment and surgery to repair the fallopian tube. Signs to notice for a possible rupture include a combination of:
– a sharp, sudden, and intense abdominal cramp or pain
– pain in the pelvis, back, abdomen, or even the shoulder or neck may be felt if blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy builds up and irritates certain nerves. The pain can be felt as mild and dull to severe and sharp. Generalized pain might be felt all over the pelvis or on just one side.
– Pain in the rectum or an intense urge for a bowel movement could mean internal bleeding.
– lightheadedness, fainting, or dizzy feeling
– sick feeling
– pale and tired look
– occasionally, when there are no warning symptoms, sudden tubal rupture can lead to heavy bleeding and cause “collapse” which could be the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
A delay or error in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy leads to increased risk of complications such as enterocutaneous fistulas, mortality, and morbidity including prolonged hospital stay and increased hospital costs. To avoid such high-risk situations, signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy should be timely addressed to abortion doctors in Chennai.
Conditions in danger of ectopic pregnancy
A high index of suspected ectopic pregnancy is in women with a previous history of tubal pregnancy, tubal surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or tubal disease. For women in whom it is suspected that they are in danger of ectopic pregnancy, with the use of testing and imaging at the best abortion clinic in Chennai, it is possible to determine a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy before symptoms develop.
Findings that indicate an ectopic pregnancy
In most early ectopic pregnancies no abnormal findings can be found. The most common clinical finding of a suspected ectopic pregnancy is tenderness in the abdomen and pelvis. In almost 50% of cases, the adnexal mass is felt on the sides of the uterus. One-third of women may show an enlarged uterus that is smaller than would be found in a normal pregnancy. Profuse bleeding could lead to accelerated heart rate (tachycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). Proper diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of ectopic pregnancy in a time-related manner can be received from the best abortion doctors in Chennai.