Everything You Need to Know About a PET Scan
October 29, 2024
Read MoreAn ultrasound is one of the key methods to distinguish whether a pregnancy is ectopic. If a doctor refers you for an ultrasound for a suspected ectopic pregnancy, you’ll probably have questions and concerns. This article will explain ectopic pregnancy, including:
Unpredictable and not fully understood, ectopic pregnancies can be very dangerous to the bearer’s health. Learn how an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed.
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy which implants anywhere outside the uterus. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes, though in rare cases they can implant elsewhere.
Ectopic pregnancies are not viable, nor can they be moved to the uterus. They can cause intense pain and severe damage if left untreated. If there is a chance of a potential ectopic pregnancy, an ultrasound scan will be ordered.
Most patients discover whether they have an ectopic pregnancy between the fifth and tenth week of pregnancy. The first signs begin to appear two weeks after a missed period.
In the earliest weeks, an ectopic pregnancy might present with the same symptoms as a regular pregnancy, including sore breasts, fatigue and nausea. Patients may notice a change somewhere between weeks 5-10.
Not all ectopic pregnancies share the same symptoms, but common experiences include:
Doctors diagnose ectopic pregnancies with a blood test, a pelvic exam and an ultrasound scan. Often all of these methods are used together.
Ultrasounds can typically identify an ectopic pregnancy during the first trimester (e.g. before 13 weeks), though it can happen earlier. The gestational sac becomes visible at 4.5-5 weeks and large embryos can be seen as early as 6 weeks.
Ultrasounds can identify more than 70% of ectopic pregnancies but depending on the size and placement of the embryo, it is possible to miss an ectopic pregnancy on an ultrasound. If the ultrasound cannot confirm an ectopic pregnancy, laparoscopic surgery might be required. Laparoscopic procedures are day surgeries in which tiny incisions are made to insert a small tube (laparoscope) so doctors can directly view the affected areas.
The sonographer will be scanning for the signs and structures or early pregnancy, such as:
Ectopic pregnancies occur most frequently in the fallopian tubes. 95% of all ectopic pregnancies are either ampullary (in the middle of the fallopian tube), fimbrial (at the far end) or isthmic (at the uterine end). 3% are interstitial, e.g. located where the tube passes into the uterus.
Much more rarely, an ectopic pregnancy might be located elsewhere, such as:
A heterotopic pregnancy consists of two simultaneous pregnancies implanted at different sites. One is usually viably implanted in the uterus while the other is ectopic.
Understanding what will happen during an ectopic pregnancy ultrasound can help assuage any anxiety. The following steps can help patients be ready:
Pregnancy ultrasounds are safe, low risk, pain-free imaging techniques. To capture internal images, the technician moves a sound wave-producing transducer through conductive gel. The sound waves bounce off internal structures and tissues and the ‘echoes’ are compiled into real-time images.
A transvaginal ultrasound can be uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. An ultrasound for an ectopic pregnancy typically takes 20-45 minutes. It does not require extensive preparation and after the scan you can go about your day as normal.
The sonographer is not legally allowed to answer questions about ultrasound results but is free to discuss the procedure itself. You can ask:
The technician sends the ultrasound images to a radiologist for examination and analysis. The radiologist forwards a report and the images to your doctor, who discusses them with you at a follow-up appointment. The process usually takes several days.
With PocketHealth, you can have secure access to your ultrasound results before that follow-up appointment – often as soon as they are released by the radiologist.
Navigating your ultrasound doesn’t have to be confusing. This section will help you understand who analyzes your images and what they might mean.
Although you can have early access to your results with PocketHealth, it’s very important to follow-up with your referring physician. A radiologist will study and interpret your ultrasound images, then create a report describing the results. Your referring physician will share and discuss those results with you.
With early access to your ultrasound results, you can ask more informed questions, such as:
MyCare Navigator, which highlights any recommendations contained in your report, will also create a list of customized questions to help steer your discussion with your doctor.
Ultrasound images are captured in shades of black, white and gray. The different shades represent the density of the tissue the sound waves encounter. The densest structures, like bone, are white, while the least dense, such a fluid, are black. The images have a cone-like shape, with the narrowest end of the cone being the top of the image.
Your ultrasound report will be full of specific terminology. If you have any difficulty understanding it, Report Reader provides an easy-to-understand definition of medical terms. However, it’s important to understand that while PocketHealth educates and empowers patients, it is not a replacement for professional medical advice.
For more detail, please see our page about how to understand your ultrasound results.
Discovering you have an ectopic pregnancy can be difficult. The symptoms can be painful and the consequences severe. As you search for a diagnosis, PocketHealth can help you keep track of your pregnancy reports and ultrasounds. The more you understand about your condition, the more prepared and proactive you can be.