Are bad period pain cramps and back pain a sign of ectopic pregnancy?

Are bad period pain cramps and back pain a sign of ectopic pregnancy?Can anyone tell me the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy?

Answer by Miriam Z
Patients with an ectopic pregnancy typically have:

* Lower back, abdominal, or pelvic pain.
* Shoulder pain
* There may be cramping or even tenderness on one side of the pelvis.
* The pain is of recent onset, and often getting worse.
* Vaginal bleeding may be present.
* Ectopic pregnancy is noted that it can mimic symptoms of other diseases such as appendicitis, other gastrointestinal disorder, problems of the urinary system, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease and other gynecologic problems.

Answer by reeferman49686swoman
I had severe cramps like you are describing my doctor thought it was an ectopic but turned out to be endometriosis and fibroid tumors (benign) You may wish to contact your doctor, ectopic pregnancies can be life threatening.

Answer by Computerbuddy
Original Article:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ectopic-pregnancy/DS00622

Ectopic pregnancy
Introduction
Pregnancy begins with a fertilized egg. This egg is called a zygote. Normally, the zygote attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. With an ectopic pregnancy, the zygote implants somewhere else.
More than 95 percent of ectopic pregnancies occur in a fallopian tube — the tubes that carry the egg from the ovaries to the uterus. These are known as tubal pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies are possible in the abdomen, ovary or neck of the uterus (cervix) as well.
An ectopic pregnancy can't proceed normally. The developing embryo can't survive, and the growing placental tissue may destroy important maternal structures. Without treatment, life-threatening blood loss is possible.
About one in every 40 to 100 pregnancies is ectopic. Thanks to earlier diagnosis and treatment, the chance for future healthy pregnancies is better than ever before.
Signs and symptoms

CLICK TO ENLARGE
Normal and ectopic pregnancy

At first, an ectopic pregnancy may seem like a normal pregnancy. Early signs and symptoms are the same as those of any pregnancy — a missed period, breast tenderness, fatigue and nausea.
Abdominal or pelvic pain is usually the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy. You may have lower abdominal or pelvic pain or mild cramping on one side of the pelvis. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is common, too. If the fallopian tube ruptures, you may feel sharp, stabbing pain in your pelvis, abdomen or even your shoulder and neck. You may become dizzy or faint.
If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, seek emergency care.
Causes
An ectopic pregnancy is caused by a disruption in a woman's reproductive anatomy or the timing of specific reproductive events. When the fallopian tube is damaged, scarred or misshapen, ectopic pregnancy may be related to delayed passage through the tube or to some factor that gives the tube an affinity for implantation.
Many times, what causes an ectopic pregnancy remains a mystery.
Risk factors
Up to 50 percent of women with ectopic pregnancies have a history of inflammation of the fallopian tube (salpingitis) or an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries (pelvic inflammatory disease).
Other factors associated with ectopic pregnancy include:
·Endometriosis, a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus is found outside the uterus
·History of surgery in the abdominal area, including the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, lower abdomen or intestines
·An unusually shaped fallopian tube
·Fertility problems
·Taking medication to stimulate ovulation
·Using an intrauterine device (IUD) or birth control pills (With proper use, pregnancy is rare when using these methods of contraception. If pregnancy occurs, it's more likely to be ectopic.)
If you've had one ectopic pregnancy, you're more likely to have another. After one ectopic pregnancy, the risk is about 10 percent. After two ectopic pregnancies, the risk increases to more than 50 percent.
But successful pregnancy may be possible. Even if one tube was injured or removed, an egg may be fertilized in the other one before entering the uterus. If both tubes were injured or removed, in vitro fertilization may be an option. With this procedure, mature eggs are fertilized in the lab and then implanted into the uterus.
When to seek medical advice
If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you need prompt treatment. Seek emergency care if you experience any signs or symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, including:
·Abdominal pain
·Vaginal bleeding
·Dizziness
·Lightheadedness
Screening and diagnosis
Ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose. If your health care provider suspects an ectopic pregnancy, he or she will do a pelvic exam to locate pain, tenderness or a mass in the fallopian tube or ovary. Unless it's an emergency situation, the diagnosis is typically confirmed with blood tests or imaging studies, such as an ultrasound.
Sometimes it's too soon to detect a pregnancy through ultrasound. If the diagnosis is still in question, your health care provider may monitor your condition with blood tests every few days until the fetal tissue grows large enough to be detected through ultrasound — usually by six weeks after conception.
Complications
When you have an ectopic pregnancy, the stakes are high. Treatment may lead to loss of reproductive organs or infertility. Without treatment, the stakes are even higher. A ruptured fallopian tube may lead to life-threatening bleeding.
Treatment
A fertilized egg can't develop normally outside the uterus. To prevent life-threatening complications, the ectopic tissue must be removed.
If the ectopic pregnancy is detected early — when the zygote is small and hasn't caused bleeding or rupture — an injection of methotrexate may be used to stop cell growth and dissolve existing cells. If the pregnancy continues after treatment with methotrexate, more medication or surgery may be needed.
If the pregnancy is farther along, you'll probably need surgery. Laparoscopy is a common choice. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small incision in the lower abdomen, near or in the navel. Then he or she uses a thin tube equipped with a camera lens and light (a laparoscope) to view the area. Other instruments can be inserted into the tube or through other small incisions to remove the ectopic tissue and repair the fallopian tube. If the fallopian tube is significantly damaged, it may need to be removed.
If the fallopian tube has ruptured, you may need emergency surgery through a laparotomy (an abdominal incision). In some cases, the fallopian tube can be repaired. Typically, however, the ruptured tube must be removed.
After treatment, your health care provider will monitor your blood for the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). If the level remains high, it could indicate that the ectopic tissue wasn't entirely removed. In that case, you may need additional surgery or treatment with methotrexate.
Prevention
You can't prevent an ectopic pregnancy — but you can decrease certain risk factors. For example, limiting your number of sexual partners and using a condom when you have sex can help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and reduce the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
If you've had an ectopic pregnancy, talk to your health care provider before conceiving again. When you become pregnant, he or she will carefully monitor your condition to make sure your pregnancy is progressing normally.
Coping skills
Losing a pregnancy is devastating — even if you've only known about it for a few days. Recognize the loss, and give yourself time to grieve. Talk about your feelings and allow yourself to experience them fully. Lean on your partner, family and friends for support.
Many women who have ectopic pregnancies go on to have other, healthy pregnancies. If you choose to conceive again, seek your health care provider's advice. Early ultrasound imaging can offer reassurance that the pregnancy is developing normally.



By Mayo Clinic Staff
Dec 21, 2005
© 1998-2006 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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