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Print: How will my doctor know if I have an ectopic pregnancy?
Your doctor will likely perform a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of your uterus. He or she may also order a urine test and a blood test to check your levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is a hormone that is produced by the placenta. If you have an ectopic pregnancy, you may have a low hCG level. Your doctor may also want to perform a sonogram. A sonogram uses sound waves to make "pictures" of organs in the body. This will allow your doctor to see where the ectopic pregnancy is.
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Source
Diagnosis and Management of Ectopic Pregnancy by AM Lozeau, MD, MS, and B Potter, MD (American Family Physician November 01, 2005, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20051101/1707.html)
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 01/11
Created: 07/06
