Ectopic pregnancy characteristics

Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Lower unilateral abdominal pain, irregular vaginal bleeding, and even after 50 days of pregnancy, the ultrasound still does not show the gestational sac implanted in the uterine cavity. An ultrasound can be used to understand the size and location of the gestational sac. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are often atypical. Some patients may experience shock due to heavy bleeding, with pale complexion and a drop in blood pressure. It is important to hospitalize timely for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy to prevent life-threatening severe bleeding. In cases of ectopic pregnancy, blood hCG levels may not increase.

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Written by Liu Qin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Causes of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, among which tubal pregnancy is the most common type, accounting for about 95% of ectopic pregnancies. There are many causes of ectopic pregnancy, with the main cause being inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The inflammation can cause the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube to become sticky, narrowing the lumen of the tube, or impairing the function of the cilia inside the tube, leading to obstruction of the fertilized egg's movement within the tube and resulting in implantation at that location. Other causes include surgery on the fallopian tubes, poor development or abnormal function of the fallopian tubes, further development of assisted reproductive technologies, and the use of emergency contraceptive pills, also known as contraceptive failure, among others. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Do ectopic pregnancies require surgery?

In general, if an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, further symptomatic examinations and treatments are necessary. Normally, it is recommended to determine the specific location of the ectopic pregnancy and any changes in vital signs under ultrasound examination. If the patient's vital signs are stable, the ectopic site has not ruptured, and there is no intraperitoneal bleeding, conservative medical treatment can be temporarily administered. If severe intraperitoneal bleeding has occurred, accompanied by changes in vital signs, it is advisable to promptly proceed with surgical treatment.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy used to be commonly referred to as "宫外孕". In fact, it is known as ectopic pregnancy, which means that the fertilized egg implants outside the uterine cavity. A normal pregnancy occurs in the uterine cavity, but if it occurs outside the uterine cavity, it is called ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy includes tubal pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, abdominal pregnancy, broad ligament pregnancy, cervical pregnancy, cornual pregnancy, etc. These are all types of ectopic pregnancies, with tubal pregnancy being the most common clinically.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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ectopic pregnancy early symptoms

First, there will be a cessation of menstruation, followed by a brief period of amenorrhea, and then irregular vaginal bleeding will occur. This vaginal bleeding is usually light and droplet-like, and the color is dark red. Additionally, most women will experience pain on one side of the lower abdomen, which manifests as a distension pain. At this time, because the ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube has not ruptured, the enlarging embryo causes the fallopian tube to expand, leading to spasms of the tube, and thus these symptoms occur. If the condition continues to progress, the fallopian tube may rupture, resulting in acute and severe pain on one side of the lower abdomen.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 21sec home-news-image

ectopic pregnancy symptoms

Ectopic pregnancy is not a normal state of pregnancy. Normally, the gestational sac should be located in the middle of the uterine cavity. An ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of the gestational sac outside the uterine cavity. Common types of ectopic pregnancy include tubal pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, and abdominal pregnancy, with over 99% of ectopic pregnancies being tubal pregnancies. The symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include the following aspects: 1. In the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy, there are no clinical symptoms because the early gestational sac is relatively small and does not stimulate the fallopian tube or the local area, thus causing no symptoms. 2. When the gestational sac grows to a certain size, it compresses the tube cavity, causing mild abdominal pain. This pain intensifies as the gestational sac grows and can lead to tearing pain, indicating a ruptured tubal pregnancy. 3. During an ectopic pregnancy, because the gestational sac cannot develop normally, the levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body are relatively low, leading to endometrial withdrawal bleeding, which manifests as a small amount of bright red vaginal bleeding.