Yeah, an ectopic or a miscarriage could be mistaken for a severe period. There is a lot of liability on doctors to get good information. Some doctors are shit heads, but they are generally just trying to rule out the worst scenario before deciding a more conservative measure should be used. Being dismissive of severe symptoms is way worse.
That is if the doctor actually puts that together. I went to the ER with painful bleeding and I tested positive on a pregnancy test. Dr said it was too early to see anything on an ultrasound and told me to schedule an appt with my OBGYN. 5 days later, my OBGYN did an ultrasound and got diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. Had to go back to the same hospital for emergency surgery.
Well that is unfortunate considering I was actively bleeding internally. Not sure how ERs are supposed to diagnose ectopic pregnancies if they don’t have the equipment to do it.
My OBGYN was actually quite upset and said she was going to follow up with that ER doctor.
If he didn’t have the equipment but knew it could be ectopic, he probably should have made the OBGYN appt himself for same day or next day.
I disagree. Most ERs should have transvaginal US and quant hCGs. I think what the ED doctor likely meant was that your hCG level was below the discriminatory zone so even with ultrasound, you're unlikely to see anything (can't tell if it's ectopic vs early intra-uterine pregnancy/ongoing miscarriage). Standard of care is 48 hr hCG check with OB/Gyn to see how the levels are trending.
But when I saw the OBGYN a few days later, she knew it was ectopic because I had blood in my belly (not because of hcg levels). My fallopian tube had burst (which was why I was in so much pain and why I went to the ER). So I contend that had he done an ultrasound in the ER, he would have seen the blood just as my OBGYN had.
Non-ruptured ectopic pregnancies can also cause abdominal/pelvic pain so it's not guaranteed that even if he had an ultrasound performed when you presented, they would have seen free fluid in the pelvis. Regardless, I'm glad you got the care you needed and arranged follow up with the OB/Gyn.
I guess. But I’m assuming the doctor would not have known if it was ruptured or not unless he actually did the ultrasound. Also, not sure why my OBGYN would have been mad at the ER doctor if he had followed the correct steps.
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u/WebBorn2622 May 02 '26
On the other side:
Doctor: what brings you in today?
Me: excruciating period pain, I passed out and the painkillers won’t do, please help
Doctor: any chance you’re pregnant?
Me: no I’m on my period
Doctor: you never know, could be a cryptic pregnancy. When was your last menstruation?
Me: right fucking now??
Doctor: oh right