Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy mainly include amenorrhea, abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, syncope and shock, and radiating pain in the shoulder. Extrauterine pregnancy usually refers to an abnormal pregnancy process in which a fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterine cavity. It is medically called ectopic pregnancy, of which fallopian tube pregnancy is the most common.

1. Menopause

Most patients with ectopic pregnancy will experience menopause, and the length of menopause varies, usually around 6-8 weeks. Some patients may mistake abnormal vaginal bleeding for menstrual cramps, resulting in an unclear history of menopause. Amenorrhea is one of the early manifestations of ectopic pregnancy, but not all patients will have obvious symptoms of amenorrhea. It is recommended that sexually active women should seek medical examination promptly if they experience menopause.

2. Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of ectopic pregnancy, usually manifesting as dull pain or soreness in one side of the lower abdomen. When a fallopian tube pregnancy miscarriages or ruptures, the patient will suddenly feel tearing pain in one side of the lower abdomen, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The degree of pain is related to the amount and speed of internal bleeding. When blood accumulates in the uterus and rectum, a feeling of bloating in the anus may occur. Abdominal pain may be persistent or intermittent, and in severe cases, general abdominal pain may occur.

3. Vaginal bleeding

Patients with ectopic pregnancy often have irregular vaginal bleeding, which is small in amount and dripping, dark red or dark brown in color, and generally does not exceed the menstrual flow. Vaginal bleeding may be continuous or intermittent, and some patients may mistake it for menstrual cramps. This bleeding is caused by endometrial stripping or a miscarriage of a fallopian pregnancy. A few patients have heavy vaginal bleeding, which is similar to or exceeds menstrual flow. In this case, we need to be alert to the possibility of fallopian tube pregnancy rupture.

4. Fainting and shock

When an ectopic pregnancy causes fallopian tube rupture, causing acute massive internal bleeding, the patient may experience syncope or even shock. Symptoms include pale complexion, clammy limbs, rapid pulse, and decreased blood pressure. The more and faster the internal bleeding occurs, the more severe the symptoms will be, and severe cases can be life-threatening. This situation is a gynecological emergency and requires immediate medical attention. The appearance of shock symptoms indicates that the condition is critical and surgery must be performed as soon as possible.

5. Shoulder radiating pain

Some patients with ruptured ectopic pregnancy and bleeding may experience radiating pain in the shoulder, which is caused by intra-abdominal bleeding irritating the phrenic nerve. When blood accumulates under the diaphragm, it can irritate the diaphragm and cause pain that can radiate to the shoulder. Radiating pain in the shoulder is one of the typical symptoms of ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Once it occurs, you should seek medical attention immediately. This symptom indicates that there may be massive internal bleeding and requires emergency medical intervention.

Extrauterine pregnancy is one of the common acute abdominal diseases in obstetrics and gynecology, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to the prognosis. It is recommended that women of childbearing age should seek medical examination promptly if they experience postmenopausal abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and other symptoms. In daily life, attention should be paid to the correct use of contraceptive measures to reduce the occurrence of unwanted pregnancy. For women with high-risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, such as previous pelvic inflammatory disease, fallopian tube surgery, ectopic pregnancy, etc., ultrasound examination should be performed early in pregnancy to rule out ectopic pregnancy. After an extrauterine pregnancy is diagnosed, you should strictly follow the doctor's instructions for treatment, avoid strenuous exercise, keep the vulva clean, pay attention to abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, and return to the hospital promptly if there are any abnormalities.