What is the difference between ectopic pregnancy and biochemical pregnancy

What is the difference between an ectopic pregnancy and a chemical pregnancy?

Biochemical pregnancy is mainly because the fertilized egg cannot implant after entering the uterus, and the embryo secretes β-HCG into the mother's blood, which can be detected in urine or blood. However, in the later stage, due to various reasons, the embryo cannot continue to grow healthily and withers, and implantation fails, resulting in a decrease in blood HCG. B-ultrasound examinations cannot see the gestational sac inside or outside the uterus. It can only be detected by biological methods and is also called subclinical abortion.

What is the difference between an ectopic pregnancy and a chemical pregnancy?

In fact, these two concepts are completely different. Let's understand normal pregnancy. When sperm and egg combine, a fertilized egg is formed. At this time, the fertilized egg will travel in the uterine cavity, then enter the endometrium and implant, and then slowly develop into an embryo. This is called normal pregnancy.

If the sperm and egg combine to form a fertilized egg, but cannot be implanted in the endometrium normally, this is a biochemical pregnancy. Common clinical symptoms are abnormal vaginal bleeding, elevated blood HCG, and positive urine HCG results. At this time, an ultrasound examination will reveal that the gestational sac cannot be found at all. For such patients, it will not cause any serious impact, and no additional treatment methods should be used to improve it.

An ectopic pregnancy is completely different. When the sperm and egg collide with each other, although a fertilized egg can be formed, the fertilized egg will not be implanted in the endometrium, but will be implanted somewhere else, most commonly in the fallopian tube.

The main reason is that the wall of the fallopian tube is relatively thin. As the fertilized egg develops into an embryo, it grows slowly in the later stage, and some related symptoms will appear, such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, etc. It may even be due to abnormal position of the embryo, leading to rupture and heavy bleeding, and in severe cases, it may be life-threatening.