Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms, Diagnosis & What to Expect

Question
ihave had eratic periods for years , despite this i have 2 children .
i am 30years old and otherwise health . my last period was on the 28th of september . i had an internal scan today but nothing was detected within my womb . i was told that the womb looked as though it was preparing it's self for a period .i was told this may be because i am to early on or that this could be because i have an ectopic pregnancy . i was told that there may me a shaddow on one of my overies or it could be the sac .i had a misscarrage on the 17th of dec last year and am very frightened . i have given blood and have been advised that i will have to do so again in two days .i am so confused please clarify things for me .
Linda  

Answer
If there is any doubt as to whether you are pregnant. Take two blood tests for pregnancy (Beta HCG) 48 hours apart. If there is a doubling of the results in 48 hours, it indicates a viable pregnancy. If there is a halving of the results in 48 hours, it indicates a miscarriage. If there is a plateau of the results (they stay around the same) in 48 hours, it may indicate the presence if a tubal pregnancy. If both results are less than 5, you were never pregnant. A sonogram may help diagnose an ectopic if a mass is seen on one side of the pelvis or the other. If yuour last period started on September 28, and you are, indeed, pregnant, you should now be only 5 weeks pregnant. A sonogram will only show an empty gestational sac but no fetus or fetal heartbeat until 6 weeks from the first day of your last period. I would suggest repeating the sonogram in another week to make sure (as long as you do not have any pain or bleeding).