What is the difference between ectopic pregnancy bleeding and menstruation?

When ectopic pregnancy occurs, many patients will experience bleeding, but some patients will mistake the bleeding from ectopic pregnancy for menstruation. In fact, there is a difference between the two. Menstrual blood is generally neither thin nor thick, and does not form blood clots, while bleeding from ectopic pregnancy is irregular.

Once an ectopic pregnancy ruptures and heavy bleeding occurs, it can endanger the patient's life. It is of great significance to distinguish between normal menstruation and ectopic pregnancy. We know that the normal menstrual cycle is about 28 days. It is normal to be 7 days ahead or behind. The menstrual period is 3-7 days. The total amount of menstruation is 50-80 ml. The menstrual color is mostly dark red. The menstrual blood is neither thin nor thick, without blood clots and odor. In contrast, vaginal bleeding in ectopic pregnancy is irregular, dark brown spotting.

Ectopic pregnancy is also difficult to diagnose and identify. The clinical diagnosis is generally based on a history of amenorrhea, blood and urine tests, and B-ultrasound. However, in the early stages of pregnancy, such as about 41 days after amenorrhea, both blood and urine may be used to diagnose pregnancy, but whether it is intrauterine or extrauterine has to be diagnosed through B-ultrasound. At this time, the gestational sac is too small to be seen by B-ultrasound.

The measurement of pregnancy hormone levels provides an important reference for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. When blood hCG>2000 mIu/ml and no intrauterine gestational sac is found by vaginal B-ultrasound, the possibility of ectopic pregnancy should be considered; when blood progesterone is lower than 10ng/nl, it indicates that there is a problem with the embryo, and the possibility of ectopic pregnancy should be ruled out first.