If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you may have some of the same symptoms you'd have during a normal early pregnancy, like sore breasts, fatigue, and nausea. However, many women have no symptoms at all until the ectopic pregnancy ruptures. Call your provider immediately if you have:
- Abdominal or pelvic pain or tenderness. You may feel it only on one side, but the pain can be anywhere in your abdomen or pelvis. It may be mild and intermittent early on, but it can also be sudden, persistent, and severe. It may be dull or sharp, and you may also have nausea and vomiting. You may find that the pain gets worse when you're active or when you move your bowels or cough. If the fallopian tube has ruptured, your abdomen may be distended and swollen. You may also feel pain in your lower back.
- Vaginal spotting or bleeding (if you've had a positive pregnancy test result). It may look like the start of a light period. The blood may be red or brown, like the color of dried blood, and it may be continuous or intermittent, heavy, or light.
- Shoulder pain. Pain in your shoulder, especially when you lie down, is a red flag for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and it's critical to get medical attention immediately. The cause of the pain is internal bleeding, which irritates nerves that go to your shoulder area.
It's also important to seek early care if you know you have a high risk for an ectopic pregnancy and think you're pregnant.
If you're having fertility treatments and get pregnant, your healthcare provider will monitor your pregnancy carefully, but alert her immediately to any symptoms of a possible ectopic pregnancy.
