A positive pregnancy test usually brings joy, but sometimes it is followed by pain on one side or unexpected spotting. One of the conditions doctors check for at this stage is ectopic pregnancy - a pregnancy that has implanted outside the womb. It is not common, but it is important to recognise early, because early diagnosis keeps more treatment choices open and protects your health.
This guide explains, in plain language, what an ectopic pregnancy is, the early symptoms, why it happens, how it is diagnosed with blood tests and a scan, and what treatment involves. It also covers what it means for a future pregnancy, which is often the first question couples in Visakhapatnam ask.
Quick answer: An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that grows outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It cannot continue safely and cannot be moved into the womb. Typical symptoms appear between weeks 4 and 12 and include one-sided lower tummy pain, spotting and shoulder tip pain. It is diagnosed with a transvaginal scan and beta hCG blood tests, and treated with monitoring, medicine (methotrexate) or keyhole surgery.
After fertilisation, the embryo normally travels down the fallopian tube and implants in the lining of the womb. In an ectopic pregnancy, it implants somewhere else. According to the NHS, most ectopic pregnancies are in a fallopian tube, which is why you may also hear the term tubal pregnancy. Rarely, it can implant in an ovary, the cervix, a caesarean scar or inside the abdomen.
A fallopian tube is narrow and cannot stretch like the womb. As the pregnancy grows, it can cause pain and bleeding and, if it is not treated, the tube can burst (rupture). The NHS notes that around 1 in 90 pregnancies in the UK is ectopic. Comparable national figures for India are not routinely published, but the condition is seen in every early pregnancy service.
Important to know
Some women have no symptoms at all and the ectopic pregnancy is found on an early scan. When symptoms do appear, the NHS says they tend to start between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. They often look like other, harmless early pregnancy changes, which is why a scan and blood tests matter.
These symptoms do not always mean an ectopic pregnancy - a urine infection, a stomach upset or a threatened miscarriage can cause similar pain. The point is not to guess at home but to get checked if you might be pregnant and notice any of them, even before you have taken a pregnancy test.
The NHS advises going to the nearest emergency department straight away if you have a combination of sudden, sharp, severe tummy pain, feeling very dizzy or fainting, feeling sick, or looking very pale. These can be signs that a tube has ruptured and internal bleeding has started. A rupture is uncommon and treatable when it is dealt with quickly, so do not wait for the pain to settle or for a routine appointment.
In many women there is no clear reason. Anything that damages or narrows a fallopian tube can slow the embryo down, so it implants before reaching the womb. ACOG and the NHS list these factors as raising the chance of an ectopic pregnancy:
Having a risk factor does not mean you will have an ectopic pregnancy. It means an early scan is sensible once your test is positive, so your doctor can confirm where the pregnancy is.
Yes. Even though embryos are placed directly in the womb during IVF, they can move into a tube before implanting. The chance is small, but it is one reason fertility teams arrange a beta hCG blood test and an early scan after a positive result. Our team describes this follow-up - beta hCG and early pregnancy monitoring - on the fertility services page at padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/fertility-services/.
Diagnosis is based on your symptoms, an examination and two key tests. NICE guidance recommends a transvaginal ultrasound (a scan using a slim probe placed in the vagina) as the main test to locate a pregnancy, because it gives a much clearer picture in early weeks than a scan over the tummy.
A beta hCG blood test measures the pregnancy hormone. A single value cannot tell where the pregnancy is, so the test is usually repeated about 48 hours later. In a healthy pregnancy inside the womb, hCG normally rises steadily; in an ectopic pregnancy it often rises more slowly, plateaus or falls. Your doctor reads the trend together with the scan, not a single number.
Sometimes the test is positive but nothing is seen on the scan, either inside or outside the womb. This is called a pregnancy of unknown location. It may be a very early normal pregnancy, a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, and doctors repeat the blood tests and scan until the picture is clear. This waiting period is hard emotionally, so ask your team to explain each result.
Key points so far
The right option depends on your symptoms, the size and location of the pregnancy, your hCG level and whether there is internal bleeding. NICE and the NHS describe three main approaches:
Medicines for ending a pregnancy that are sold over the counter do not treat an ectopic pregnancy, and taking them without a confirmed diagnosis can delay proper care. Only a doctor who has seen your scan and blood results can decide which treatment is safe for you. At Padmasri, laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy is part of the gynaecology services listed at padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/gynecology/.
Physical recovery after keyhole surgery is usually a few weeks, and after methotrexate you may feel tired or have some tummy discomfort for a while. Many women and their partners also feel grief, anxiety or guilt after losing a pregnancy, even a very early one. These feelings are normal. Talking to your doctor, your partner or a counsellor helps, and it is fine to take time before thinking about trying again.
Most women who have had an ectopic pregnancy can become pregnant again, including women who have had one tube removed, because the remaining tube still works. The chance of another ectopic pregnancy is higher than average, so in your next pregnancy your doctor will usually suggest an early scan around 6 to 8 weeks to confirm it is in the womb. If both tubes are damaged or removed, IVF is an option that bypasses the tubes; you can read about it at padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/in-vitro-fertilization.php.
Not every ectopic pregnancy can be prevented, but some risks can be reduced. Stopping smoking, using condoms to lower the chance of sexually transmitted infections, getting pelvic infections treated promptly, and having an early scan if you have had an ectopic pregnancy or tubal surgery before all help. Routine pregnancy care and early scans are part of the obstetric care described at padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/gynecology-obstetrics.php.
For a consultation, call +91 80083 36677 or use our contact page. Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre, 49-48-16/5, NH16, NGGOS Colony, Akkayyapalem, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530016. If you have severe pain, fainting or heavy bleeding, go to the nearest emergency department straight away.
No. With current medical techniques an ectopic pregnancy cannot be moved into the womb or continue safely. Treatment focuses on protecting your health and, where possible, your fallopian tubes for future pregnancies.
Yes. Home urine tests and blood hCG tests are usually positive. They confirm pregnancy but cannot show where it is, which is why a transvaginal scan and repeated beta hCG tests are needed.
According to the NHS, symptoms usually develop between the 4th and 12th week of pregnancy. Some women have no symptoms and the ectopic pregnancy is found on an early scan.
Often yes, on a transvaginal scan. Very early on it may not be visible yet; this is called a pregnancy of unknown location, and the scan and blood tests are repeated until the location is clear.
In selected cases, yes. If you are stable and hCG levels are within the range your doctor sets, monitoring or methotrexate medicine may be used. Surgery is needed if a tube has ruptured or the pregnancy is larger.
Most women can, even with one tube. Your doctor will usually suggest an early scan in your next pregnancy, and after methotrexate the NHS advises waiting at least 3 months before trying to conceive.
Written by Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre Editorial Team · Updated 27 October 2026
This article is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor.