This is when pregnancy occurs outside the uterus , usually in a fallopian tube . Pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding may result. The tube may burst, and there may be internal bleeding as well. Blood loss may cause weakness, fainting, or even shock. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy requires prompt treatment.
Ectopic pregnancies are much less common than miscarriages.
They occur in about 1 in 60 pregnancies. Women who have already had an ectopic pregnancy or have had previous tubal surgery are also at higher risk. A very rare cause of early bleeding is molar pregnancy . It results in the growth of abnormal tissue, rather than an embryo. It may require treatment with suction curettage or with drugs.