What is ectopic pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy is a condition in which a fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. There are many reasons for ectopic pregnancy, such as fallopian tube disease, previous surgery, drug use, etc. If ectopic pregnancy is not recognized and treated in time, it may lead to fallopian tube rupture, bleeding, and life-threatening consequences. It is critical to differentiate between intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies. Here is a trick to help you easily distinguish the difference between intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy.
1. Fertility time and symptoms
After intrauterine pregnancy, the fertilized egg will implant and develop in the uterus. After ectopic pregnancy, the egg will implant and develop in the fallopian tube. Generally speaking, intrauterine pregnancy is discovered early, around 6 to 8 weeks after conception. It usually takes 4 to 8 weeks to detect an ectopic pregnancy. Symptoms of intrauterine pregnancy include but are not limited to: vaginal bleeding, backache, breast tenderness, etc. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancy may include: lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder pain, etc. Therefore, if you experience symptoms such as lower abdominal pain within a few weeks of conception, you should seek medical attention immediately to avoid delaying the condition.
2. Pregnancy test paper test
Pregnancy test strips are a common household item that can easily detect pregnancy. However, it can only tell you that you are pregnant, but cannot tell you whether it is intrauterine or ectopic. Because the principle of pregnancy test paper is to measure the level of HCG (chorionic gonadotropin) in urine, this indicator is applicable to both intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, after detecting pregnancy, you should promptly go to the hospital to draw blood and test HCG, B-ultrasound and other indicators to confirm whether it is intrauterine pregnancy.
3. B-ultrasound examination
There are obvious differences between intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy on B-ultrasound examination. B-ultrasound can clearly see the implantation of the embryo in the uterus. At this time, fetal sac, fetal bud, fetal heartbeat and other signals may appear. The situation of ectopic pregnancy must be judged based on the position of the embryo in the fallopian tube, fetal development status, etc., which requires high B-ultrasound technology. At the same time, sometimes the markers of ectopic pregnancy may be masked, requiring multiple B-ultrasounds to accurately confirm. Therefore, if you suspect that you have an ectopic pregnancy, it is recommended to go to a qualified medical institution for testing.
4. Medical history review
Some medical histories are high-risk groups for ectopic pregnancy. If you have the following medical history, you should be vigilant: you have had salpingitis, hydrosalpinx, and the use of intrauterine devices in the past; you have had multiple miscarriages, and you have experienced multiple infertility. Yu et al. Additionally, recent use of illicit drugs or medical abortion may increase the incidence of ectopic pregnancy. If you have the above medical history, you should seek medical attention early and strengthen examination during pregnancy.
Conclusion:
To distinguish between intrauterine pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy, it is necessary to combine various examination methods and medical history analysis. If there is any suspicion, you need to go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible. We strongly recommend that pregnant women and their families should have some understanding and awareness of this aspect, increase their awareness of ectopic pregnancy, and avoid unnecessary confusion and risks as much as possible.
