It happens once in about 100 pregnancies, most often in women between 25 and 30 years of age. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening for both the pregnant woman and the baby and should not be underestimated. How to recognize it based on the most common symptoms?
An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical condition that can have fatal consequences for both mother and baby. The “younger” pregnancy, the easier it is to remove it with medication or gynecological intervention, and the symptoms are less burdensome. If detected later, such a pregnancy may even bleed out and die. Removal of an ectopic pregnancy is performed surgically and may involve the removal of the fallopian tube. However, it is important to detect pregnancy as soon as possible, because then the risk of health-threatening complications decreases. As you can see, this situation should not be underestimated. And how to recognize him?
- Suspect you have salpingitis or appendicitis and find out you’re pregnant? Report as soon as possible for an ultrasound examination. An ectopic pregnancy has very similar symptoms to these two common conditions. So if, apart from pregnancy symptoms, you feel pain in the lower abdomen only on the left side, do not underestimate this signal.
- In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, the sharp pain is aggravated by movement, coughing, laughing, and other activities involving the abdominal muscles. It is worth paying attention to such symptoms. In some people, they may be only slightly bothersome, but it is not worth waiting until the pain increases to see a doctor.
- Bleeding or spotting from the genital tract can happen in any pregnancy, so it is difficult to tell from the spotting that we are dealing with an ectopic pregnancy. However, if the bleeding is accompanied by pain, it is worth considering the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy and contacting a doctor.
- Bleeding from the genital tract combined with sharp pain, cold sweat, accelerated heartbeat and fever may indicate a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. In this case, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
- It is worth paying attention to the symptoms of pregnancy, such as the cessation of menstruation. If your period has stopped but you do not see an embryo implanted in the uterus despite the symptoms of pregnancy, this may indicate an ectopic pregnancy.
- A symptom that is easy to confuse with a normal pregnancy is a tendency to vomit and weakness. In ordinary pregnancy, they usually last only in the mornings or with exertion; in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, these symptoms will be present continuously.