Normal pregnancies grow inside the uterus (womb). Ectopic pregnancies grow outside the uterus, most common in the fallopian tube, because a fertilized egg passes through one of these tubes on the way to the uterus.
Ectopic pregnancies are rare but dangerous. Once the pregnancy has grown too big to fit into the fallopian tube, it will cause the tube to burst. This can lead to heavy bleeding inside the body, infection, and death.
Ectopic pregnancies are typically without symptoms in the beginning, but may cause a combination of the following signs:
- Lower abdomen and/or pelvic pain
- Cramping on one side of the pelvis
- Shoulder pain
- Vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Lower back pain
Go to a hospital or clinic right away if you feel:
- Sudden or ongoing severe pain
- Lightheaded or dizzy
Less than 1 in every 100 people seeking abortions have ectopic pregnancies.
Rates are higher among those who:
- Get pregnant with an intrauterine device (IUD).
- Have had an ectopic pregnancy before.
- Have scarring from a pelvic infection or surgery.
- Have scarring from a ruptured appendix.
- Have had sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before.
Abortion pills do not treat ectopic pregnancies, but they also won’t make them worse. If there is no bleeding more than 24 hours after misoprostol, this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. You can get treatment no matter where you live, even in places where abortion is restricted. This involves a medicine called methotrexate or surgery. An ultrasound can confirm the placement of your pregnancy.
Sources
- https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/ectopic-pregnancy
- World Health Organization. 2023. Clinical Practice Handbook for Quality Abortion Care. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075207
- Duncan, Clara I., John J. Reynolds-Wright, and Sharon T. Cameron. 2022. ‘Utility of a Routine Ultrasound for Detection of Ectopic Pregnancies among Women Requesting Abortion: A Retrospective Review’. BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health 48 (1): 22–27. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200888
