The short explanation
Most women who have had an ectopic pregnancy go on to have a normal pregnancy later, but the chance of another ectopic is higher than for women who have never had one. Because of this, it is important to contact your doctor as soon as you have a positive test. An early scan, often from around six weeks, along with blood hormone tests, can check that the pregnancy is in the womb. Finding an ectopic early gives more treatment options.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- With one tube remaining, natural conception is still possible if that tube is healthy. How likely depends on your age, the health of the remaining tube and any history of pelvic infection or endometriosis.
- If you have been trying for a while without success, a doctor may check the remaining tube and discuss options including IVF.
- Keep the details of your previous treatment and share them at your first antenatal visit.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot predict whether a future pregnancy will be in the womb. Only early scans and tests can show that.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is my remaining tube healthy?
- When should I come for a scan after a positive test?
- What symptoms should make me seek help straight away?
- If we do not conceive soon, what are our options?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have a positive pregnancy test with severe pain on one side of the lower belly, pain in the shoulder tip, heavy bleeding, or you feel faint or collapse.
Get help the same day
- Contact your doctor the same day if you have any bleeding or pelvic pain after a positive test.
Book an appointment soon
- Arrange an early scan within a few days of a positive test.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine pre-pregnancy visit to discuss your history.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Ectopic pregnancy NHS
- Ectopic pregnancy MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Infertility NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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