No yolk sac, are the doctors terms of weeks correct

[AndyLouise]

I’m hoping someone can clear up my confusion. Currently worried sick. I told my doctor I was pregnant and had dull period pains and on 1 evening I had a pain on the right side (only for a few hours and not again) so I was sent for a early scan. Today before the scan they said I’m 5 weeks 4 days. There was a gestational sac but it was empty, I’m going back for another blood test to check my hormone levels in 2 days but I’m worried as they have put ectopic pregnancy in my head. Or am I only 3 weeks pregnant and is this why the sac was empty? I struggle when I’m reading online 5 weeks pregnant but I know I can’t be although the doctor says that. Am I worried because I’m reading people had a scan at 5 weeks and saw a yolk sac and I’ve been told I’m 5 weeks 4 days but actually I’m 3 weeks and a few days? I’m not sure I’ve made much sense but would really appreciate it if someone could help me make sense of this. Thank you xx

Sorry you're having this worry. I can tell you that if the scan showed the sac and it was in the womb, you're definitely not having an ectopic pregnancy. Every hour will feel like a year, but all you can do is wait for the next scan. I have my fingers crossed for you that everything turns out well x

Thank you Blue moon, I did say that to the lady that scanned me and the midwife after and they said they couldn’t diagnose it nor confirm the pregnancy. The letter they sent me away with explains ectopic and that I will need to be rescanned in 2 weeks, it also says about the trigger points to get to hospital for an ectopic so my head is spinning. Xxx

Also to add, the date of pregnancy is from counted from the first day of your last period, not from when you ovulate, which would explain why their date is different to your date, at just over 3 weeks nothing would be able to be seen on a scan. This is why early scans are not done until around 6 weeks. It could be that you ovulated a bit later than you thought, hence why the yolk sac isn't yet visible.

I've had 2 ectopics, one ruptured and one not ruptured. The non ruptured I kept getting very very sharp pains in my front right side. They monitored me for a week closely, blood tests continued to show I was pregnant but the hormones were not rising as quickly as they should, and the scan showed nothing in my womb. I had the injection medication to dissolve the pregnancy.
The ruptured one I got classic shoulder tip pain which you can't miss as it's the most painful thing I've ever felt... I can only describe it like some trying to rip my arm out of its socket! I also felt very bloated and fainted twice.
If you get any such symptoms go to hospital immediately.

Hi OP,

Sorry you find yourself in this situation. I was there back in Jan.
I think it's a good sign that they saw a sac, but they have to be cautious as in some ectopic pregnancies there is such a thing as a pseudo sac that they can see in the womb.
If they'd seen a yolk sac, then they would have been able to tell you 100% that it's not ectopic.
But where you're still so early, you could go back in a week and baby would be developing fine.
They date pregnancy by adding 2 weeks to your ovulation date, so 5 weeks is probably right.
Mine didn't turn out to be ectopic in the end. I hope you get a happy ending with this OP and go on to have a lovely pregnancy.

Thank you both for your replies, I’m sorry to hear that bluemoon. I just get my head in a pickle so much with the dates because I’ve read that at 5 weeks you should see a yolk sac and I didn’t have one. I then went and brought a clear blue test that will tell you the weeks and this said I was 2-3 weeks pregnant - this makes sense from when I’ve had sex I would be just over 3 weeks. So I’m confused as to how far I am and If I should be in this much of a panic or not xxx

I only saw a sac at 6 weeks with this pregnancy (baby kicking me now and due in Oct). As pp says sac but no yolk sac can still mean ectopic but chances are still in you favour and when you go back hopefully you'll see a healthy pregnancy. Just a waiting game at this point but keep an eye out for symptoms of ectopic

Don't forget that the pregnancy is counted from your last period, so for weeks 1 and 2 you aren't pregnant at all. So having sex 3 weeks ago would make 5 weeks pregnant plausible.

And Clearblue 2–3 weeks means 4–5 weeks pregnant.

@AndyLouise clearblue dates from conception, which is typically around 2 weeks after the first day of your last period.

The Doctors will go by the first day of your last period, which is why they're saying 5 weeks.

It sounds like 5 weeks is more accurate in your case, just remember that the little bean is developing rapidly at this stage and just 1 or 2 days can mean the difference between seeing a yolk or not. Hopefully your HCG levels will have risen on your next blood test, which will be a positive thing :)

As others have said, pregnancy is dated from first day of your last period so you'd be listed as 5 weeks pregnant if actual conception was around 3 weeks ago. Did they say the embryo is in the uterus or is it located elsewhere? Why do they still think ectopic is a possibility? I had an ectopic earlier this year that they couldn't locate on a scan and it began rupturing while I was actual being scanned at around 8 weeks. I think you need some clarity on where the embryo actually was seen. They do sometimes watch and wait with ectopic as they can naturally fail.

Thank you all for your replies, they said they couldn’t see an embryo but could see the gestational sac. This is my first pregnancy and I’m not really understanding anything. I understand It’s a waiting game but I’m sending myself round the bend. Am I right to think that if my hormone levels rise tomorrow that all should be ok as In not an ectopic? I’ve called some private clinics for early scans and they have told me that as it’s a natural conception pregnancy they won’t scan me until I’m 7 weeks. I don’t know where else to turn to keep myself calm and get more clarity xxx

Hi Andy, did they tell you what your hcg level is?

Hi @teakind yeah 2046. Xxx

I’m not an expert but I don’t think you need to worry too much yet. I think it’s needs to be 2000 to see something on a scan which they can with you. It’s just probably a bit early to see much more. I know it’s a horrible wait but don’t lose hope x

@teakind thank you xxxx

I had this problem 4 years ago, I had an early scan because I wasn't sure of the dates and I was told by 2 doctors that I was having an eptopic pregnancy ( they couldn't see anything in the womb) and that my tube would be removed, that night I had key hole surgery and the next day was told that when they went in they could'nt see a "pregnancy" in either tubes, so basically I was pregnant but they just didn't know where! Couple of days later I had my bloods taken and my levels were rising so they could see I was still pregnant,one week later I was scanned again and there she was! I was measuring 6+2 they said it was probably because I was so early that's why it wasn't showing the first time around.

Try to stay positive im sure that it's because your too early atm x

Thank you @queenbeetofive5 omg I bet your head was spinning, I’m glad everything worked out my hormone level yesterday had gone up and is over 11,000 now xxx