Think you’re pregnant and scared you might have an ectopic pregnancy? Maybe you’ve already had a nerve-racking experience of ectopic pregnancy. It’s important to confirm your pregnancy details to be aware of this pregnancy complication, as it can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.
What is Ectopic Pregnancy?
In a typical pregnancy, the fertilized egg is attached to the uterus lining, and after the placenta forms, the pregnancy continues until birth.
With an ectopic pregnancy, it grows outside the uterus. It’s a life-threatening situation that requires emergency medical treatment. With this complication, the fertilized egg attaches outside of the uterus and normally within a fallopian tube. If it’s in a fallopian tube, it can cause the tube to burst or rupture. That’s why early detection is key.
An ectopic pregnancy is not viable (healthy and progressing), which means it can’t result in giving birth.
Common Symptoms of Ectopic Pregnancy
The only way to know if you might be experiencing an ectopic pregnancy is through an ultrasound after testing positive with a pregnancy test.
While an ectopic pregnancy can still happen to any woman, here are some risk factors that may increase the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy:
- Previous ectopic pregnancy
- Scar tissue in the fallopian tubes from infection or surgery
- Smoking
- Becoming pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control or after a tubal ligation
Some early symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can include light vaginal bleeding, mild pelvic pain, lightheadedness or fainting, and shoulder pain.
Confirm Your Pregnancy
The only way to know the location of your pregnancy (if it’s within or outside of your uterus) is through a pregnancy confirmation with an ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms not only the location of your pregnancy but also how far along you are and if it’s a viable pregnancy.
At A Choice for Women, we offer free pregnancy tests to determine if you are eligible for an ultrasound. After a positive test, we will discuss all your options. Depending on your circumstances, a free ultrasound could result from this discussion.
All our services are at no cost and require no insurance. In the event of a positive test, we can provide financial assistance that can help you. But to qualify for financial assistance, you will need to come in and talk to one of our counselors.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment today to get started on pregnancy confirmation.