Is it ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER and thank you for coming to us with your concern.

Did the physician examine you? Was this a gynecologist?

An ectopic pregnancy most often occurs in one of the tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus (fallopian tubes). This type of ectopic pregnancy is known as a tubal pregnancy. In some cases, however, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in the abdominal cavity, ovary or neck of the uterus (cervix).

In some cases the early signs of an ectopic pregnancy include a missed period, breast tenderness and nausea, the same as a normal early pregnancy. In other cases, there are no symptoms at all.

Light vaginal bleeding with abdominal or pelvic pain is often the first warning sign of an ectopic pregnancy. If blood leaks from the fallopian tube, it's also possible to feel shoulder pain or an urge to have a bowel movement — depending on where the blood pools or which nerves are irritated. If the fallopian tube ruptures, heavy bleeding inside the abdomen is likely — followed by lightheadedness, fainting and shock.

Most miscarriages occur during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Warning signs of a miscarriage include:
Mild to severe back pain (often worse than normal menstrual cramps)
Weight loss
White-pink mucus
True contractions (very painful happening every 5-20 minutes)
Brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps (20-30% of all pregnancies can experience some bleeding in early pregnancy, with about 50% of those resulting in normal pregnancies)
Tissue with clot like material passing from the vagina

Anonymous, if the pelvic pain returns and is severe, please contact your gynecologist or primary care physician. If your period is late by at least seven days, please take a home pregnancy test and test in the morning, using the first urine of the day.

Regards,
Maryann