Does an ectopic pregnancy show on scan

[bothered]

Does anyone know whether an ectopic pregnancy shows on an early scan - had a scan at six weeks and there was no heartbeat but the ecg levels were high. Went back at 6/4 still no heart beat but but the hcg levels are still high. The hospital suggested its an ectopic and I have to go back in a few days time. Anyone have any experience of this?

Ectopic doesn't reliably show up on a scan so they often have to rely on blood tests for HCG levels instead.

I haven't had an ectopic but did have an early missed miscarriage and I know they were concerned about possible ectopic. They explained to me then that some fairly high proportion of ectopics (I can't remember what it was, but 25% sticks in my mind for some reason) don't show up on early scans, so they always keep it in mind as a possibility until they have definitely ruled it out.

Thank you, would a heartbeat have shown on the scan if all was ok at 6/4? If it is an ectopic will I lose a tube?

Often you would see a heartbeat at 6+4, but by no means always. How certain are you of your exact dates? How pregnant will you be at the next scan? Have they been doing serial hCG tests (i.e. taking blood levels a couple of days apart to see what the levels are doing)?

If it is ectopic they may be
(a) able to dissolve it just by giving you a shot of methotrexate (this would also destroy any viable non-ectopic pregnancy so they won't want to do this unless and until they are absolutely certain that you don't have a viable pregnancy)
(b) able to surgically remove it and leave your tube intact
or
(c) have to remove your tube

There's no way to predict which at this stage (if it even is an ectopic).

Im fairly sure that the dates are correct but I suppose it could be a late conception not necessarily conceived on day 14, Im praying this is the case.

Personally I never ovulate until day 18 or 19, if that's any help at all (probably not...)