6 symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

Every thing with pregnancy is not smooth sailing, sometimes it can take an ugly turn too and lead to an abnormal or ectopic pregnancy. Learn the signs to avoid pitfalls

Debjani Arora | Updated: October 9, 2014 5:13 pm

In a normal healthy pregnancy a fertilized egg would implant itself on the inner lining of the uterus, grow and develop into a fetus and a full term baby in due time. But as it is with the human body it can act devious at times. The fertilized egg instead of being planted in the inner lining of the uterus might go and settle elsewhere in the body leading to an abnormal or ectopic pregnancy.

In an ectopic pregnancy the fertilized egg implants itself inside the lining of the fallopian tube or at times in the ovaries or lining of the abdomen.

Ectopic pregnancy never progresses into a full term pregnancy. If it goes unnoticed it can lead to a medical emergency. It is wise to get treated before it’s too late.

Though most women might reach the hospital reporting an emergency due to the progression of the pregnancy but there are enough signs that can make you aware of your condition early. Here are the signs that could indicate a possible ectopic pregnancy:

Abdominal pain

This pain can be mild in the beginning and can get severe with every passing day and become persistent. One more noticeable fact about abdominal pain associated with ectopic pregnancy is that it would be sharp and severe, present only on one side of the abdomen.

Vaginal bleeding

Of course we all know that vaginal bleeding is a common sign for many womanly health crises, but this is different from the regular menstrual periods. Your blood might look darker with the bleeding being either heavier or lighter. Though this might not be a prominent sign in most women, but absence in periods and sudden vaginal bleeding with the symptoms mentioned can indicate an abnormality in pregnancy. But many ignore this symptom thinking it is a delayed menstrual period.

Shoulder pain

You thought anything related to pregnancy would be restricted to the bump and the genitals. Well, an abnormal pregnancy can trouble other parts of your body too. With the progression of an ectopic pregnancy, you may notice a sharp pain at the shoulder tip (the juncture between the shoulder and the arm). This is also an indication that there is some internal bleeding due to ectopic pregnancy. The bleeding is thought to irritate the phernic nerve, which is found in the diaphragm. It is believed that irritation of the phrenic nerve can cause pain in the shoulder blade. You might feel the pain become severe or extensive while lying down.

Dizziness

With ectopic pregnancy it is possible that the fertilized egg grows and ruptures leading to internal bleeding which in turn can lead to a lightheaded feeling or can even make one collapse. This condition is often associated with a drop in the blood pressure. This is usually an emergency situation that needs medical help.

Pain in the genital areas

You might also feel pain while urinating or passing bowel with an impending ectopic pregnancy.

Diarrhea and vomiting

A progression of ectopic pregnancy can also give rise to symptoms like that of gastrointestinal disorders or infections like vomiting and diarrhea.

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Published: April 25, 2014 2:35 pm | Updated:October 9, 2014 5:13 pm

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