Ectopic pregnancy

What does ectopic pregnancy mean?

Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that starts outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It cannot continue and needs urgent medical care.

How it is used in the Splash library

• It also says that if you have a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy while trying, the time you have already been trying still counts.

  From “How long does it take to get pregnant?”

• You’ve had a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy while trying – NICE says the clock does not restart, so the time you have already been trying still counts

  From “When to get fertility help”

• An Ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg starts to grow outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube.

  From “Ectopic pregnancy: know the warning signs”

Ectopic pregnancy explained

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It can't develop into a baby, and as it grows it can damage the tube and cause serious internal bleeding.

It affects about 1 in 90 pregnancies in the UK (NHS). It is a medical emergency, but it can be treated, and most people go on to have healthy pregnancies later.

What's typical

Symptoms usually appear between 4 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. They can include pain low in the tummy on one side, vaginal bleeding or brown discharge, pain at the tip of the shoulder, discomfort when peeing or pooing, and feeling dizzy or faint.

Some people have no symptoms until it is picked up on a scan. A pregnancy test is usually positive.

Risk is higher after a previous ectopic, pelvic infection, tubal surgery, IVF, or smoking, and if pregnancy happens with an IUD or IUS in place, though these methods make pregnancy itself very unlikely.

Treatment may be monitoring, medicine (methotrexate) or keyhole surgery (NICE NG126).

When to talk to a GP, nurse or pharmacist

• Call 999 or go to A&E if you have sudden, severe tummy pain, shoulder-tip pain, or feel very faint or collapse.
• Contact a GP, NHS 111 or an early pregnancy unit urgently if you could be pregnant and have one-sided pain or bleeding.

In the UK you can call NHS 111 for advice at any time. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US). This is general information, not medical advice.