Once you know you are pregnant, get an ultrasound within the first 5 - 6 weeks so the doctor can locate the gestational sac and rule out ectopic pregnancy.
The joy of seeing two lines on a pregnancy test is real, but it is only the first step. An early ultrasound shows whether the pregnancy is in the right place, so that cases where the embryo has implanted in the wrong place can be caught in time.
What is an ectopic pregnancy
Normally, after fertilization, the egg travels to the uterus and attaches to its lining, where conditions are right for the pregnancy to develop. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants somewhere else, most often in a fallopian tube, and sometimes in an ovary, the cervix or the abdominal cavity.
These places cannot stretch and are not able to support a pregnancy, so the pregnancy can easily rupture and cause bleeding inside the abdomen. That is why an ectopic pregnancy is an obstetric emergency: if it is found late, a ruptured pregnancy can cause the mother to lose a lot of blood. Understanding this condition helps women take a more active role in caring for their reproductive health.
Why an early ultrasound matters
To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, doctors rely mainly on ultrasound and a blood test for beta-hCG levels. If the test shows you are pregnant but the ultrasound does not show a gestational sac inside the uterus, the doctor will consider the possibility that the pregnancy is outside the uterus. That is why women should have an ultrasound within the first 5 - 6 weeks after finding out they are pregnant.
Signs to watch for
At first, this condition looks very much like a normal pregnancy, but there are often a few distinctive signs:
- A late period, with the pregnancy test still showing two lines.
- Dull or sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen.
- Light, dark brown bleeding that goes on for several days.
- Tiredness, dizziness.
Once the pregnancy has ruptured, a woman may have sudden, severe abdominal pain, feel faint, have a rapid pulse, low blood pressure, cold sweats and may even pass out. If these signs appear, go to the nearest medical facility right away.
Who is more at risk
- Women who have had inflammation of the fallopian tubes or pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy before.
- Women with pelvic adhesions after surgery.
- Women who are using an IUD.
- Women who smoke.
- Women who became pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Having these factors does not mean it will definitely happen, but knowing about them so you can take preventive steps and keep watch is important.
Treatment and prevention
Depending on the size of the pregnancy and the woman's condition, the doctor may treat it with medication when it is still small and has not ruptured; with laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery when it is large, about to rupture or has ruptured; or with open surgery when there is heavy bleeding. The goal is to keep the mother safe and preserve her ability to have children in the future as much as possible.
To help prevent it, women should keep the intimate area clean, treat infections early, practice safe sex to avoid sexually transmitted infections, not smoke, have regular gynecological checkups and get an early ultrasound as soon as a pregnancy test is positive. An ectopic pregnancy can be found early if a woman pays attention to her body and sees a doctor at the right time.
Trusted clinic for early pregnancy check-ups in Ho Chi Minh City
For nearly 20 years, Ky Hoa Medical Center has cared for the health of people in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together highly qualified doctors who are attentive at every visit. When early pregnancy check-ups needs checking, our Obstetrics & Gynecology doctors take time to listen, examine carefully and explain clearly so that you fully understand your condition, then agree together on a treatment and follow-up plan.
Ultrasound is performed on site, so you can complete check-ups in one place, which makes follow-up visits easier.
The center operates under Operating License No. 00449/HCM-GPHĐ, with a list of medical techniques approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health (Decision 471/QĐ-SYT), and is a primary care facility contracted with Ho Chi Minh City Social Security, accepting health insurance (BHYT) visits on Saturdays as well. The practising certificates of our 24 doctors are published on our Doctors page.
When the pregnancy test shows two lines, you can come to the Obstetrics & Gynecology department at Ky Hoa Medical Center, where a doctor will examine you, do an ultrasound and order suitable laboratory tests. Simply walk in during opening hours and take a queue number; if you have severe abdominal pain, feel faint or pass out, go to the nearest medical facility right away.
Ky Hoa Medical Center
Address: 266A - 268 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 6:30 - 11:30 and 13:00 - 17:00 (closed on Sunday)
Hotline: 028.3868.1097
Source: Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life) newspaper