Editing Ectopic pregnancy (section)

== Signs and symptoms ==
[[File:Ectopic Pregnancy.png|thumb|upright=2|Ectopic pregnancy]]
Up to 10% of those with ectopic pregnancy have no symptoms, and one-third have no [[medical sign]]s.<ref name=kirk2013/> In many cases the symptoms have low [[sensitivity and specificity|specificity]], and can be similar to those of other [[Genitourinary disorders|genitourinary]] and [[gastrointestinal disorder]]s, such as [[appendicitis]], [[salpingitis]], rupture of a [[corpus luteum cyst]], miscarriage, ovarian torsion or [[urinary tract infection]].<ref name=kirk2013/> Clinical presentation of ectopic pregnancy occurs at a mean of 7.2 weeks after the last normal menstrual period, with a range of four to eight weeks. Later presentations are more common in communities deprived of modern diagnostic ability.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

Signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy include increased hCG, vaginal bleeding (in varying amounts), sudden lower abdominal pain,<ref name=kirk2013/> pelvic pain, a tender cervix, an adnexal mass, or adnexal tenderness.<ref name=Crochet2013/> In the absence of ultrasound or [[human chorionic gonadotrophin|hCG]] assessment, heavy vaginal bleeding may lead to a misdiagnosis of miscarriage.<ref name=kirk2013/> [[Nausea]], [[vomiting]] and [[diarrhea]] are more rare symptoms of ectopic pregnancy.<ref name=kirk2013/>

Rupture of an ectopic pregnancy can lead to symptoms such as [[abdominal distension]], [[Tenderness (medicine)|tenderness]], [[peritonism]] and [[hypovolemic shock]].<ref name=kirk2013/> Someone with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy may experience pain when lying flat and may prefer to maintain an upright posture as intrapelvic blood flow can lead to swelling of the abdominal cavity and cause additional pain.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Skipworth RJ |date=December 2011 |title=A new clinical sign in ruptured ectopic pregnancy |journal=Lancet |volume=378 |issue=9809 |pages=e27 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(11)61901-6 |pmid=22177516 |s2cid=333306 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Complications ===

[[File:FluidMorisonsPouchEctop.PNG|thumb|Blood in [[Morrison's pouch]] between the liver and kidney due to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy]]

The most common complication is rupture with internal bleeding, which may lead to hypovolemic shock. Damage to the fallopian tubes can lead to difficulty becoming pregnant in the future. The woman's other fallopian tube may function sufficiently for pregnancy. After the removal of one damaged fallopian tube, pregnancy remains possible in the future. If both are removed, in-vitro fertilization remains an option for women hoping to become pregnant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ectopic pregnancy |url=http://nhp.gov.in/disease/gynaecology-and-obstetrics/ectopic-pregnancy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828072425/https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/gynaecology-and-obstetrics/ectopic-pregnancy |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=4 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Pediatric clinical advisor : instant diagnosis and treatment |date=2007 |publisher=Mosby Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-03506-4 |edition=2 |pages=180–181}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Tenore JL |date=February 2000 |title=Ectopic pregnancy |journal=American Family Physician |volume=61 |issue=4 |pages=1080–8 |pmid=10706160}}</ref>