Every month, we will identify the most commonly asked questions about ectopic pregnancy and answer them. If you have any further questions that you cannot find the answer to on the website, please contact us.
Would an Ectopic Pregnancy show on a home pregnancy test?
Home pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The test just gives a positive or negative result to confirm or deny a pregnancy. The urine sets are very sensitive and can show positive before a missed period. The test gives no indication as to whether the pregnancy is an ectopic pregnancy.
Quantitative blood levels can be used as part of an algorithm that includes transvaginal ultrasound scans in the management of women who may have an ectopic pregnancy. See the Ectopic Pregnancy Foundation website for investigations.
Is depression normal following an ectopic pregnancy?
There is no doubt that ectopic pregnancy can have a profound impact on a person’s mental health, which may include depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The number of incidents is unknown, but may be underdiagnosed and therefore under-treated by health care professionals. See Psychological impact of ectopic pregnancy.
When was the first Ectopic Pregnancy discovered?
There is little documentation of the first description of an ectopic pregnancy. The first operation for ectopic pregnancy, which at that time had a very high mortality rate, was. In 1883, it was performed by Lawson Tate. Sadly, the woman died, but in the next series of 40 operations, all but one survived. See the Ectopic Pregnancy Foundation, Lawson Tait, the forgotten gynaecologist.
How long does it take to recover physically from an Ectopic Pregnancy?
Recovery time depends on the individual and the type of surgery that they had. With laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, patients are usually discharged the following day and back to normal activities in a few days.
If open (laparotomy) surgery is performed a hospital stay of a few days is usual as there is a bikini scar on the abdomen. This takes longer to heal and may take weeks. See Ectopic Pregnancy Treatment for more information.
Are there different sorts of Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that develops outside the uterine cavity. The most common site is in the Fallopian tube, with other sites being much less common. These sites include the portion of the tube within the uterine wall (interstitial ectopic) and within the cervix, or the scar of previous uterine surgery, usually after a previous caesarean section(s). Pregnancy in these rare sites can provide a challenge to both. For diagnosis and treatment, see the website on ectopic pregnancy sites.
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