Ectopic Pregnancy Symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy symptoms can mirror the symptoms of a normal pregnancy at first, but certain signals will let you know that things aren't progressing normally. Also known as tubal pregnancy, cervical pregnancy and abdominal pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside of the womb. The fetus never survives, and an ectopic pregnancy can be very dangerous for the mother. If the area of the abnormal pregnancy ruptures and bleeds, it can cause shock or infection. Without medical intervention, this may result in death. Ectopic pregnancies often happen in one of the fallopian tubes, but an ectopic pregnancy may also occur in the stomach area, cervix or an ovary.

Ectopic Pregnancy Signs

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• One or more missed periods without additional symptoms of pregnancy
• Tender breasts
• Lower back pain
• Mild cramping on one side of the pelvis
• Nausea
• Lower abdominal pain
• Pelvic pain

A pregnancy test may be positive in the early days of an ectopic pregnancy. If you get a positive result from a home pregnancy test, an ultrasound can be used to determine the location of the fetus. If a pregnancy test is negative and you're experiencing these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.

If you feel faint or actually faint, have strong pain in your shoulder area or have a severe, sharp and sudden pain in the lower abdomen, it is a possibile that an ectopic pregnancy has ruptured and is bleeding. Seek medical help immediately if you experience these symptoms.

What Causes Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy generally occurs because of a condition that blocks the movement of the fertilized egg or slows the movement of the fertilized egg through the fallopian tube into the uterus. There may be a physical blockage in the tube or scarring caused by a past ectopic pregnancy. Past surgery or infections that swell the fallopian tubes are common causes. Salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are frequently associated with ectopic pregnancies.

Other causes of ectopic pregnancies include birth defects of the fallopian tubes, complications from a ruptured appendix, endometriosis or scarring caused by previous pelvic surgery.