What is an ectopic pregnancy? The symptoms to look out for

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An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants somewhere outside of the uterus. This can happen as the sperm fertilises the egg inside the fallopian tube.

A fertilised egg can also implant on the cervix, the ovary, and in the peritoneal cavity - which is the space within your abdomen that contains your intestines, stomach, and liver. Most commonly an ectopic pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube, known as a tubal pregnancy.

Unfortunately, tubal pregnancies pose a risk to the mother’s life if the pregnancy is allowed to continue. This means the pregnancy cannot be saved, according to the NHS.

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The fallopian tube cannot accommodate a growing embryo and can burst if not treated, causing internal bleeding and other life-threatening conditions. To avoid this ectopic pregnancies in the fallopian tubes are removed in surgery or using medicine.

Yes, an ectopic pregnancy will show up as a positive on a pregnancy test as the same hormones are released. So it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.

In the UK, there are around 11,000 ectopic pregnancies each year. That’s around 1 in every 90 pregnancies, according to figures from the NHS .

Most ectopic pregnancies are detected in the first trimester of pregnancy. If no symptoms occur an ectopic pregnancy will be picked up during an early pregnancy scan.

Symptoms to look out for according to the NHS guidelines include: A missed period and other signs of pregnancy, tummy pain low down on one side, vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge, pain in the tip of your shoulder, discomfort when going to the bathroom.

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