Ectopic Pregnancy Scan

During the process of conception of pregnancy, the egg, and sperm meet just outside the fallopian tubes of the uterus. Fallopian tubes are narrow thin tubes that guide the sperms towards the ovaries, where the ovulated free egg is awaiting fertilization. Once fertilization happens, the small bundle of newly formed conception cells (blastocyte) starts multiplying and growing. In the meantime, it starts to travel back towards the cavity of the uterus via the fallopian tubes. This migration usually takes around 5-6 days, and the embryo implants itself within the lining of the uterus (endometrium). This is the natural and correct place for the pregnancy to be as the muscle of the womb can stretch and carry the baby for 9 months.

Sometimes this process is interrupted by either previous pelvic infections, local adhesions, variants in female anatomy, or any other reason and the conception implants itself into any nearby structure, such as the ovary, pelvic floor, bowel, and fallopian tube and therefore pregnancy is ectopically placed outside the womb lining. Ectopic pregnancy cannot carry on as none of the mentioned sites are designed to carry a pregnancy.

The following symptoms could mean that your fallopian tube has split open (ruptured).
1. A sharp, sudden, and intense pain in your tummy
2. Feeling very dizzy or fainting
3. Feeling sick
4. Looking very pale

This is very serious and surgery to repair the fallopian tube needs to be carried out as soon as possible. Ectopic pregnancy can become a life-threatening situation for the pregnant mother.

A rupture can be life-threatening, but fortunately, they’re uncommon and treatable, if dealt with quickly. Deaths from ruptures are infrequent in the UK.

Since the pregnancy is not inside the womb, the lining of the womb which had thickened to house the pregnancy can start to shed and bleeding can be experienced by the pregnant mother. This could be the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy as well as pain on the affected side. Some patients might be feeling faint and unwell, have headaches, one-sided pelvic pain, general abdominal pain, or have any unusual symptoms. Symptoms can include a combination of:
1. A missed period and other signs of pregnancy
2. Tummy pain low down on 1 side
3. Vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge
4. Pain in the tip of your shoulder
5. Discomfort when peeing or pooing

A positive BHCG pregnancy blood test confirms that you are pregnant, but it cannot tell us where it is implanted and growing. An early Pelvic transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound scan (Ectopic pregnancy) can determine the site of pregnancy and rule out the possibility of an ectopic. However, if the gestation is too early, neither ectopic nor intrauterine pregnancy can be seen. In these cases, serial βHCG hormone check-ups (Blood test) and serial Ectopic pregnancy (Pelvic) ultrasound scans a few days apart are necessary to check the progress of the pregnancy.

Very rarely twin pregnancy can have two sites with one inside the womb and one ectopically placed. Even though this is very unlikely to happen, the only way to find out is by ultrasound scan.

In London private ultrasound, we perform Transabdominal and Transvaginal ultrasound scans (Ectopic Pregnancy) as early as the end of the 5th to 6th weeks of the pregnancy to confirm the accurate progression of pregnancy, and this will put your mind at rest. βHCG blood test also can be performed on-site. Repeat transvaginal Pelvic ultrasound scans, (Ectopic pregnancy ultrasound scans), blood tests,and follow-up scans can be arranged to follow the active process of pregnancy if the gestation is too early or the results are borderline, dubious, or inconclusive.