LoadingSomething is loading. Show
Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. A mom in her 30s suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy — even though a urine pregnancy test came back negative, a new case report details. The woman, a mom of three, went to a UK hospital at about six weeks pregnant with severe bleeding. A blood test confirmed the pregnancy, but an ultrasound didn't detect a sac. So, clinicians monitored her closely to see if she was just earlier in pregnancy than she thought — or if something else was going on, like a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Over the course of a few days, one of the latter options seemed most likely. The mom's levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (bHCG) — what pregnancy tests pick up — dropped, indicating a miscarriage. And yet, an ultrasound suggested an ectopic pregnancy. So, doctors continued to monitor the patient every 48 hours with blood tests and ultrasounds. They didn't intervene further since her blood pressure was normal, she had no pain, and her bHCG levels were so low, Dr. Louise Dunphy, the case report's lead author, a gynecologist at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, told Insider. By about 10 weeks pregnant, the woman developed severe pain on her right side. At this point, her urine pregnancy test was negative, but a blood test was positive. Further testing revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and "an urgent anaesthetic and gynecology review were requested," the study authors wrote. The woman underwent surgery to remove her right fallopian tube and the pregnancy tissue. All told, she lost about 2,050 milliliters of blood and needed a transfusion, according to the study. She was discharged after three days. Dunphy told Insider there's not enough awareness around chronic ectopic pregnancies, which describes an ectopic pregnancy with such low bHCG levels that it doesn't show up with a urine test. "This case shows the importance of requesting a blood test," she said. Chronic ectopic pregnancies are "an enigma," the study authors sayAn ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus — typically, in a fallopian tube. The pregnancy is never viable, and swift treatment is critical to prevent the tube from bursting and leading to potentially life-threatening internal bleeding. While ectopic pregnancies are usually detectable by urine pregnancy tests, in 1.6% of cases, they're only detectable via blood tests, according to the study. "It is an enigma," the study authors write, adding that only a few reports of chronic ectopic pregnancies have been published in the last decade, and many of them were discovered due to an unrelated intervention. Chronic ectopic pregnancies — which doesn't, in fact, mean "chronic" as in enduring — are thought to occur when an ectopic pregnancy creates small, repeated ruptures that develop into a mass of blood, clots, and trophoblastic tissue, or the tissue that develops into the placenta and creates the bHCG hormone. In these cases, it seems the trophoblastic tissue doesn't produce enough bHCG to be picked up by urine pregnancy tests, which only detect pregnancies when bHCG levels are over 25 IU/L. But anything 5 IU/L or over is a pregnancy, Dunphy said. Chronic ectopic pregnancies can be especially difficult to diagnose, since their symptoms — like pelvic pain, irregular bleeding, or sometimes no symptoms at all — can mimic other, more common conditions that you'd expect in someone with a negative pregnancy test. For example, a chronic ectopic could be misdiagnosed as a ruptured appendix, peptic ulcer, pelvic inflammatory disease, or urinary tract infection. But "rendering the diagnosis promptly is important," the study authors say, since like ectopic pregnancies, the chronic type can rupture the fallopian tube and become life-threatening. On this page
What is an ectopic pregnancy?Ectopic pregnancy is one kind of early pregnancy loss. It is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs in about 1 in 100 pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilised egg does not implant in the uterus, and the pregnancy grows in the wrong place. This happens most commonly in the fallopian tube, although it can also occur on the ovary, or in a scar from a previous caesarean section, or in other parts of your abdomen. Sadly, there is no possibility for an ectopic pregnancy to survive, and the pregnancy will end in miscarriage or need to be terminated (aborted). Are there any risk factors that might increase my chances of having an ectopic pregnancy?Many women who have ectopic pregnancies do not have any pre-existing risk factors. But there are some situations that do increase your chance of an ectopic pregnancy, including:
What are the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?Ectopic pregnancies can cause the following signs and symptoms:
How would I know if I have an ectopic pregnancy?Many of the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy could also be due to other causes, so check with your doctor before you start to worry. If your doctor is concerned you may have an ectopic pregnancy, they will most likely recommend a transvaginal ultrasound. The combination of a positive pregnancy test and no implanted pregnancy in the uterus is an indication that you have an ectopic pregnancy. However, there are other possible explanations so your doctor will continue to measure your pregnancy hormone levels with blood tests. If you have an ectopic pregnancy, your blood hormone levels are usually lower than normal and will rise more slowly. How will my ectopic pregnancy be treated?An ectopic pregnancy must be treated to stop it from growing. There are 3 main options for treatment depending on your situation:
What happens if my ectopic pregnancy is left untreated?In a normal pregnancy, the uterus grows as your baby grows. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fallopian tube cannot grow and expand the same way, so your pregnancy risks overstretching the tube as it grows. This can be very painful and cause the tube to tear or burst. If this happens, it can cause serious internal bleeding, and may even be life threatening. Will having an ectopic pregnancy affect my chance of having a successful pregnancy in the future?Ectopic pregnancy and its causes may impact your future fertility, but you still have a good chance of conceiving and having a successful pregnancy. What is my chance of having another ectopic pregnancy?If you have had an ectopic pregnancy, you have a higher chance of having another one. This is partly because the underlying cause may still be there and partly because the ectopic pregnancy may have damaged or scarred the fallopian tube. It may be reassuring for you to know that 9 out of 10 future pregnancies will not be ectopic. What support is available to me if I have had an ectopic pregnancy?Ectopic pregnancy is a kind of early pregnancy loss. It is normal for women and families to feel grief, so remember that counselling services are available. Please speak to your GP if you feel you need support. You are entitled to Medicare-funded counselling with a psychologist if you suffer a pregnancy loss and your doctor can arrange this for you. There are also community support groups. Your doctor can recommend some to you. To find a psychologist near you for pregnancy loss support, ask your GP or obstetrician or use the Service Finder. How long should I wait before trying for another baby?If you have had medical treatment or taken the ‘watch and wait’ approach, you can have sex with your partner again once your hormone levels reach zero. If you have had surgery, you should wait until the pain and bleeding stop, which usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. Although you may try for a pregnancy as soon as you and your partner are ready, it is recommended to wait 3 months after surgery or the ’watch and wait’ approach, and 4 months after taking medical treatment. More informationIf you experience any of the following symptoms after you have been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, you need to urgently go to a hospital emergency department:
 Can you have an ectopic pregnancy with negative pregnancy test?Since 1987, eight cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy have been reported with a negative urine pregnancy test. These patients were taken to the operating room for suspected hemoperitoneum (5). These cases and ours suggest that ectopic pregnancy should be considered even with a negative pregnancy test.
How long does it take for an ectopic pregnancy to test positive?Pregnancy test
This blood test may be repeated every few days until ultrasound testing can confirm or rule out an ectopic pregnancy — usually about five to six weeks after conception.
What are 3 signs of an ectopic pregnancy?Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy
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.
Can you have a ectopic pregnancy and not test positive?Although hCG is still produced during ectopic pregnancy, the levels of this hormone are lower and harder for a pregnancy test to pick up than in a regular pregnancy. For this reason, 1% of ectopic pregnancies will have a negative pregnancy test result.
|
Will you test positive if you have an ectopic pregnancy
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 pauex Inc.
