From the Guidelines
Predisposing factors for an ectopic pregnancy include a history of tubal surgery, previous ectopic pregnancy, and salpingitis with resulting tubal occlusion, as these conditions can lead to tubal damage and altered embryo transport. Some of the key factors that increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy are:
- History of tubal surgery, including sterilization, which carries the highest risk 1
- Previous ectopic pregnancy, which results in a significant risk increase due to surgical management or persistence of risk factors associated with the original ectopic pregnancy 1
- Salpingitis with resulting tubal occlusion, which doubles the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy with each recurrent episode 1
- In vitro fertilization and induced ovulation, which have become important risk factors, although tubal factors remain the most important risk factors for ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization 1 These factors can compromise normal fallopian tube function or alter the embryo's journey to the uterus, resulting in implantation outside the uterine cavity. It is essential to consider these risk factors when evaluating patients presenting with early pregnancy symptoms to promptly diagnose and manage ectopic pregnancies, reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality 1.
From the Research
Predisposing Factors for Ectopic Pregnancy
Some of the predisposing factors for an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Prior ectopic pregnancy 2, 3, 4, 5
- Pelvic inflammatory disease history 2, 3, 4
- Previous pelvic surgery 3, 4, 5
- Infertility treatment 3, 4
- Abdominal and pelvic surgeries 4
- Previous tubal ligation 4
- Advanced maternal age 4
- Smoking 4
- Number of partners exceeding one 4
- History of spontaneous and induced abortion 4
- Previous use of emergency contraception 4
- Intrauterine device use 4, 5
- History of infertility 6
- History of pelvic inflammatory disease 6
Patient-Related Risk Factors
Patient-related risk factors that may lead to the rupture of ectopic pregnancies include: