Answer:
I'm sure this is different for each person, but I just had surgery for an ectopic pregnancy and my symptoms were immediate. I began bleeding and having hard abdominal cramps before I even knew I was pregnant. I took a test that evening (to ease my mind, actually) and realized I was pregnant. I hadn't even had my first period. The doctors asked me why I took a test so early and I explained it was to ease my mind that I was not having a miscarriage. Because it was so early, however, it took a couple of weeks to determine it was an ectopic pregnancy and not a ruptured cyst/miscarriage--this was the first explanation. When the pain became centralized and worsened, they began further testing and diagnosed an ectopic. After the methotrexate shot didn't work, they did surgery and removed the fallopian tube carrying the pregnancy. Again, this could differ from person to person, but my pain was immediate and horrible. I would rather go through labor and emergency c-section (which I've had) than this again. But, thankfully, I have had the surgery and am on the road to recovery.