What Are the Causes of Ectopic Pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tubes (tubal pregnancy) instead of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can also occur in the abdomen, ovary or cervix. A fertilized egg cannot survive outside the uterus, so it must be removed. Ectopic pregnancy has several causes or risk factors.

Previous Ectopic Pregnancy

The fertilized egg gets stuck in the fallopian tubes when the tubes are scarred or damaged, so a woman who has had one ectopic pregnancy is likely to have another.

Inflammation or Infection

Fifty percent of ectopic pregnancies are caused by salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes) or pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of fallopian tubes, uterus or cervix), according to the Mayo Clinic. Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea or chlamydia can also cause ectopic pregnancy.

Fertility Treatments

Using fertility drugs that stimulate ovulation increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Tube Structure

If the structure of the fallopian tubes has been damaged by previous surgery, or is unusually shaped, this can lead to ectopic pregnancy.

Choice of Contraception

A pregnancy that occurs while using birth control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD) or after a tubal ligation ("tubes tied") is often an ectopic pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

Ectopic pregnancies must be terminated because they cannot survive, and can lead to rupture of the fallopian tubes and deadly internal bleeding. However, it is possible to have healthy pregnancies after ectopic pregnancies, usually by removing the tube that was damaged or through in vitro fertilization.

References

• Mayo Clinic