Expectant Management in Ectopic Pregnancy
Current as of: November 21, 2017
Some early ectopic pregnancies are watched closely to see whether the embryo will become reabsorbed by the body. (This is also called expectant management.)
If an ectopic pregnancy ends on its own, a woman will not need medicine or surgical treatment. But an ectopic pregnancy that does not end on its own can cause heavy bleeding that could be deadly. This is why you have frequent checkups during expectant management.
To be a good candidate for expectant management, you must:
Increasing abdominal (belly) pain or pelvic pain, tubal rupture that causes internal bleeding, and high serum hCG levels are reasons to stop expectant management and consider other treatment options. In these cases, medicine or surgery or both are needed. Symptoms such as shoulder pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting could be signs of internal bleeding with tubal rupture.
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Elizabeth T. Russo, MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Current as ofNovember 21, 2017
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