What are the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy—also known as extrauterine pregnancy—refers to an abnormal pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterine cavity. Tubal pregnancy is the most common type. Women with ectopic pregnancy may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and urinary frequency. In severe cases, patients may develop shock and hypotension due to massive hemorrhage. This occurs primarily because intra-abdominal bleeding reduces cerebral perfusion, leading to dizziness and visual disturbances.

Vaginal bleeding is another possible symptom, resulting from the ectopic pregnancy. The amount of bleeding is typically small and appears dark red—a sign that the embryo has died. Generally, the volume does not exceed that of a normal menstrual period. Finally, abdominal pain is also a common symptom of ectopic pregnancy. In contrast, physiological early pregnancy usually does not cause abdominal pain. Therefore, if a woman experiences lower abdominal pain that progressively worsens, she should seek prompt medical evaluation at a hospital.