Quick answer
What is ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the womb, usually in a fallopian tube. Symptoms often appear between weeks 4 and 12 and can include one-sided lower tummy pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder-tip pain or discomfort when using the toilet. Sudden severe pain, dizziness or fainting may mean rupture and requires 999.
Symptoms to recognise
Possible symptoms include a missed period, vaginal bleeding that differs from a normal period, lower tummy pain on one side, shoulder-tip pain, and pressure or pain when opening your bowels. Some people initially have no symptoms.
Getting assessed
Early-pregnancy services may arrange blood tests and an internal ultrasound. One set of results may not give an immediate answer, so follow-up is important. Treatment depends on the pregnancy’s size, symptoms and test results and may involve monitoring, medicine or surgery.
Rupture is an emergency
Sudden intense abdominal pain, dizziness, fainting or collapse can indicate internal bleeding. Call 999 rather than travelling alone.
Common questions about ectopic pregnancy
- Can an ectopic pregnancy test negative?
- A home test may be negative very early. Seek medical advice if pregnancy is possible and you have concerning pain or bleeding, even without a positive test.
- Where is ectopic pregnancy pain felt?
- Pain is often low down on one side, but its location and intensity vary. Shoulder-tip pain can happen when internal bleeding irritates the diaphragm.
- How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?
- Assessment commonly includes pregnancy-hormone blood tests and a transvaginal ultrasound. Sometimes tests must be repeated before the location is clear.