What is Ectopic Pregnancy?
Your health should be the priority when you’re navigating an unplanned pregnancy. It can be easy to start weighing your options, but you must protect your well-being and confirm critical details first.
Before deciding, you should verify information like your pregnancy’s location. Some women experience an ectopic pregnancy—a life-threatening condition that requires treatment.
A limited ultrasound at Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic can confirm pregnancy details and provide the information needed to make an educated decision. You can book a no-cost, confidential appointment with our medical staff today.
Where is an Ectopic Pregnancy Located?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in a location other than the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube, an ovary, or the cervix.
This type of pregnancy is non-viable, which means it can’t survive. And without treatment, it will cause life-threatening complications like severe bleeding.
Initially, you might not realize something is amiss. You will still receive a positive pregnancy test result, and you could have typical pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, or a missed period.
However, warning signs will become more noticeable as the fertilized egg grows. You may experience:
- Pelvic pain
- Light vaginal bleeding
- Shoulder pain (if blood leaks from the fallopian tube)
- The urge to have a bowel movement (if blood leaks from the fallopian tube)
Without proper treatment, you’ll experience more extreme symptoms, especially if the fallopian tube has burst. These include:
- Extreme lightheadedness or fainting
- Shock
- Shoulder pain
- Severe abdominal or pelvic pain with bleeding
Treating This Condition
You must receive treatment for an ectopic pregnancy to prevent complications. First, the medical provider will diagnose the condition with blood tests and an ultrasound.
An ultrasound confirms your pregnancy’s location and can note whether an ectopic pregnancy is occurring based on signs like internal bleeding.
Treatment will depend on your unique situation. You may receive medication, undergo a laparoscopic procedure (which makes a small incision), or have emergency surgery if needed.
This treatment is not the same as an elective abortion, which occurs when you choose to end your pregnancy and are not experiencing a life-threatening health issue.
You can’t prevent an ectopic pregnancy from occurring, but certain risk factors (like smoking or having an STD) can make you more likely to have one.
Regularly visiting a medical provider and discussing potential risk factors will help you stay on top of your reproductive health. Your well-being should always be the highest priority.
Confirm Your Pregnancy Today
You deserve the facts about your pregnancy before making a decision. And know that you’ll never be denied treatment for a condition like ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
Your safety matters. At Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic, you’ll receive trustworthy care and can confirm your pregnancy with a limited ultrasound.
Schedule a no-cost, confidential appointment today and take advantage of our pregnancy services.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
