Previous termination of pregnancy - the risk of ectopic increases among those who have had two or more terminations, particularly if there was infection afterwards. As an emergency. Suddenly, without warning a woman is very unwell, collapses and is taken to hospital. A positive pregnancy test is found and she is transferred to theatre PDQ and a ruptured ectopic is found with bleeding into the abdomen. Early detection of ectopics are high in this group of women as we routinely check that the pregnancy is where it should be fairly early on.
Some women report fainting or shoulder-tip pain.
Obviously first of all a pregnancy test. This may be backed up with a blood sample being taken. Vaginal ultrasound scan can reliably demonstrate a pregnancy in the womb from about 4.5-5 weeks onward. Sometimes scan can show an ectopic pregnancy clearly in the tube next to the womb. Unfortunately, there is about an 11-14 day window when a pregancy test may be positive, but it is too early for ultrasound scan to confirm excactly where it is.