What is an ectopic pregnancy? posted by on September 25, 2011

Ectopic means “out of place.” Without treatment, the ectopic pregnancy symptoms will worsen over several days or weeks. If you already know you’re pregnant, or if the urine test comes back positive, you’ll probably be given a quantitative hCG test. This blood test measures levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced by the placenta and appears in the blood and urine as early as 8 to 10 days after conception. Its levels double every 2 days for the first several weeks of pregnancy, so if hCG levels are lower than expected for your stage of pregnancy, one possible explanation might be an ectopic pregnancy.
For an early ectopic pregnancy that appears to be naturally miscarrying (aborting) on its own, you may not need treatment.

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