What condition is most consistent with a 32-year-old woman experiencing sharp pain radiating to her right shoulder?

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The scenario describes a 32-year-old woman with sharp pain radiating to her right shoulder, which is a classic indication of referred pain, often associated with certain abdominal conditions, particularly those involving injuries to the diaphragm or intra-abdominal bleeding. In this case, ectopic pregnancy is a key consideration because when a pregnancy occurs outside the uterus, it can lead to internal bleeding and irritate the diaphragm. This irritation can cause pain that radiates to the shoulder due to the shared nerve pathways through the phrenic nerve.

When an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, the resultant internal bleeding can lead to peritonitis and, consequently, shoulder pain known as Kehr's sign. This makes ectopic pregnancy the most consistent condition with the symptoms presented. It's crucial to recognize that conditions like placenta previa, spontaneous abortion, and preeclampsia present differently and do not typically feature shoulder pain as a symptom, making them less likely in this specific context.

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