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Early pregnancy spotting/abdominal cramping
Early pregnancy spotting/abdominal cramping
Re: Early pregnancy spotting/abdominal cramping
I read your post and although I don’t have any advice/guidance for you, as have only recently experienced ectopic pregnancy, I just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you and hope you get positive news at your appointment tomorrow.
Sending lots of wishes.
Re: Early pregnancy spotting/abdominal cramping
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Re: Early pregnancy spotting/abdominal cramping
When diagnosing an ectopic pregnancy, doctors use a combination of transvaginal ultrasound scanning and blood tests to check HCG levels.
Usually scans take place at around six weeks gestation as there is a reasonable chance of seeing an embryo at around this time. If scans are inconclusive, doctors would carry out a series of blood tests to check hCG levels to see if the numbers are rising as expected. However, in isolation, hCG tests only provide a part of the picture - declining levels indicate that a pregnancy has ended and will be miscarried. It can also possibly indicate an ectopic pregnancy that is "self-resolving". Also hCG levels rising by less than 66% over 48 hours means it is likely (but not certain) that it is ectopic. If levels rise normally, they suggest the pregnancy is implanted in the uterus. You may see from this that hCG levels only indicate certain possibilities and are not in themselves a definitive guide. A positive identification of an implanted embryo on a scan is usually needed before a final diagnosis/certainty that the pregnancy has implanted in the uterus. This is possibly the reason why your doctors are waiting until your appointment to carry out scans and tests.
Having said this, I do think that if you are currently feeling pain which seems unusual and is concerning you and, in particular, if you experience any bleeding or spotting, it is better to get checked out to be on the safe side. As pain is unique to each person and I have such limited information, it would be better to get professional medical assistance by someone who can examine you. Visiting the hospital would give you peace of mind and, if you explain your previous ectopic pregnancy and the pains you are experiencing now, they would be able to check your symptoms and assist you.
Sending much love,
Karen x
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811
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