Is an ectopic pregnancy the same as an abortion?
Lawful, licensed, confidential. Termination of pregnancy at Pai Hospital is carried out lawfully under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (as amended), at a licensed facility, by registered medical practitioners, within the limits and the certification that the Act requires. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind, at any stage, for any reason. Your identity and your treatment are confidential.
No. An ectopic pregnancy is one that has settled outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. It can never grow into a healthy baby, and it can burst and cause serious internal bleeding. Treating it is emergency care to protect your life, not an abortion. The scan before any abortion looks for exactly this.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Normally, after conception, the fertilised egg travels down one of the fallopian tubes and settles in the lining of the womb, which is built to stretch and nourish a growing pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, it settles somewhere else — most often inside the tube itself, and occasionally in other places. The tube is narrow and cannot stretch the way the womb can.
A pregnancy growing there cannot continue. It can never become a healthy baby, and it cannot be moved into the womb. As it grows, it can stretch the tube until it bursts, causing bleeding inside the tummy that can be heavy and dangerous. That is why an ectopic pregnancy is treated as a medical emergency. You can read more about the condition itself on our ectopic pregnancy page.
Why is treating it not an abortion?
The two are often confused, and the confusion can add fear or guilt at an already frightening time, so it is worth saying plainly. A termination of pregnancy is a decision about a pregnancy that is growing inside the womb. In India, it is lawful care under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, given at a government-licensed hospital.
An ectopic pregnancy is a different medical condition altogether. The pregnancy is in the wrong place, it cannot continue there, and it puts your life at risk. What is done about it is emergency treatment to protect your life and your health, decided on medical grounds alone. There is no choice being made about a healthy pregnancy, and there is nothing to feel ashamed of.
What are the warning signs?
An ectopic pregnancy usually shows itself early, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant. If you are pregnant, or think you might be, please take these signs seriously: pain low in the tummy, especially on one side; vaginal bleeding or spotting that is different from your usual period; pain at the tip of the shoulder, which can be a sign of internal bleeding; pain when passing urine or opening the bowels; and feeling faint, dizzy, sweaty or suddenly very unwell.
Some women have only mild symptoms at first, and things can change quickly. If the pain is severe, or you feel faint, do not wait to see whether it settles. Go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away, or call us at once. Finding it early makes treatment simpler and safer.
Who is more likely to have one?
An ectopic pregnancy can happen to anyone who is pregnant, and many women who have one have no particular risk factor. It is seen somewhat more often after a previous ectopic pregnancy, after surgery on the tubes, after a past infection in the pelvis, when a pregnancy happens with a coil in place, and after fertility treatment. Smoking also raises the chance. If any of these applies to you, tell the doctor early in any pregnancy, so that a scan can confirm the pregnancy is in the right place.
Why does the scan before an abortion look for this?
Before any abortion, safe care always begins with an ultrasound scan, and one of its most important jobs is to look for exactly this. The scan confirms that the pregnancy is inside the womb. If it is not, the situation changes completely, and what follows is urgent care for the ectopic pregnancy rather than the treatment that had been planned.
This is one of the clearest reasons why abortion medicine taken at home, without a scan, can be so dangerous. It does not treat an ectopic pregnancy, and the bleeding it causes can look like a completed abortion while the ectopic pregnancy carries on growing, unseen, until it becomes an emergency. It is also why we do not send abortion medicine by post or courier: any abortion service is given in person, at the hospital in Goa, only after you have been scanned and assessed.
How does ultrasound keep guiding abortion care?
The same care carries on during treatment. When a termination is carried out as a procedure, every suction or D&C is done under real-time ultrasound guidance, with the doctor watching the womb on screen throughout. This lowers the risk of complications such as perforation, and it shows the exact moment the womb is empty, so the procedure stops right there, with no unnecessary scraping. That helps protect the lining of the womb for future pregnancies. We also use 100% single-use disposable instruments, opened fresh for each patient, so nothing passes from one woman to another.
How is it treated, and what about future pregnancies?
Treatment depends on how early it is found and how you are. When it is found early and you are well, it can sometimes be treated with medicine and careful monitoring with blood tests and scans. When it is larger, or has caused bleeding, it needs an operation, often by keyhole surgery, to remove the pregnancy and stop any bleeding. The doctor will explain what is right for you and why. In an emergency, speed matters most, so please go to the nearest hospital rather than travelling a long way.
Many women go on to have healthy pregnancies afterwards. Because the chance of another ectopic pregnancy is somewhat higher, see a doctor early in any future pregnancy, so that a scan can confirm it is growing in the womb. Whatever the treatment, you will be cared for with privacy and respect, whether you are married or not.
Getting started
If you are pregnant and have any of the warning signs described above, please do not wait: go to the nearest hospital straight away, or call us at once. If you are well and simply have questions, call or message us, and we will help you understand your next step. Any abortion service is always given in person at the hospital in Goa, after a scan, and whatever you share with us stays private. This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS in Obstetrics & Gynaecology. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
Is treating an ectopic pregnancy the same as having an abortion?
No. An ectopic pregnancy is a different medical condition and an emergency. The pregnancy is outside the womb and cannot continue there, so treating it is emergency care to protect your life, not a termination.
Can an ectopic pregnancy be moved into the womb?
No. It cannot be moved, and it can never grow into a healthy baby outside the womb. Treatment aims to keep you safe and to protect your health for the future.
What should I do if I have one-sided pain in early pregnancy?
Do not wait for it to settle. Go to the nearest hospital straight away, or call us at once, especially if you also have bleeding, pain at the tip of the shoulder, or feel faint.
Why do you scan before an abortion?
The scan confirms that the pregnancy is inside the womb and not ectopic, and it lets the doctor plan your care safely. It is one reason any abortion service is only given in person, after you have been seen.
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This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.