What does PUL mean in CLINICAL MEDICINE

Possible causes of PUL include poor access to prenatal care, missed appointments for ultrasounds, inaccurate ultrasounds, fetal death in utero, ectopic pregnancy, and retained gestational products. If a pregnant woman has not received consistent prenatal care throughout her pregnancy, it can make it difficult to diagnose PUL.

Tests used to diagnose PUL may include blood tests looking for elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone levels; pelvic exams; ultrasound imaging; and transvaginal sonograms. Depending on the results of these tests, additional testing such as amniocentesis or hysteroscopy may be recommended by doctors.

Yes. Risks associated with having a PUL include an increased risk for experiencing spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), developmental abnormalities in the fetus due to inadequate nutrition or oxygen delivery issues in the uterus, and complications from untreated ectopic pregnancies such as tubal rupture or hemorrhage.

To reduce your risk factors for developing a PUL, you should ensure that you receive regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy. Additionally, you should have early ultrasounds performed if there is any question about fetal location or development within your uterus. Finally, if there are concerns about fetal growth or development during your pregnancy due to lack of nutrients from the placenta try supplementing with vitamins prescribed by your doctor.

Yes — depending on the type of unknown location found on ultrasound imaging either surgical treatment or medication management may be recommended for managing symptoms related to an unknown location pregnancy including terminating an ectopic pregnancy with medication known as Methotrexate injection that can cause reabsorption also called molar pregnancies are generally managed only through surgical intervention in order to avoid potential harm caused by continued growth of molar tissue within the uterus.