A guide for patients
A positive test, and a scan that can't yet show where the pregnancy is. Hearing “pregnancy of unknown location” can feel unsettling — but it's a common, well-understood finding, not a diagnosis in itself.
What does PUL mean?
A pregnancy of unknown location, or PUL, means your pregnancy test is positive, but an ultrasound scan can't yet see a pregnancy — either inside or outside the womb. It's a common finding, affecting an estimated 8–30% of women having an early scan (the exact figure varies between units), and almost always simply means it's too early to see anything yet, since a pregnancy needs a few more days of growth before it becomes visible.
PUL is not a problem on its own. It's a “wait and see” label while your body and your pregnancy catch up with what the scan can detect.
What can happen next
Most PUL situations settle into one of these outcomes within one to two weeks:
- An ongoing pregnancy in the womb - The most common outcome. A follow-up scan shows a healthy pregnancy in the right place — it was simply too early to see the first time.
- An early miscarriage - Hormone levels rise more slowly than expected, then fall. A pregnancy had begun but has not continued.
- An ectopic pregnancy - The pregnancy is found outside the womb, usually in a fallopian tube. This needs prompt treatment, so we monitor closely for this possibility.
- No pregnancy is ever found - Sometimes hormone levels fall and settle without any pregnancy ever becoming visible — an early loss that resolves on its own.
While things settle, we keep a close eye on how you're doing:
- Blood tests - Repeated hCG hormone levels, usually 48 hours apart, show whether a pregnancy is progressing.
- Follow-up scan - Booked for a week or so later, once there's more to see.
- Your symptoms - Pain or heavy bleeding are checked promptly, at any point in the process.
When to get help straight away
Contact us or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you have severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness, or fainting. These can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which needs urgent attention.
While you wait
Not knowing is one of the hardest parts of early pregnancy. It's normal to feel anxious, and there's no need to manage that alone.
We'll stay in close contact until you have a clear answer, and we're always here for your questions in between.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice. Please speak with one of our specialists about your individual circumstances.