Ectopic Pregnancy Causes

Ectopic pregnancy is caused when a fertilized egg lodges in a fallopian tube instead of continuing its journey to the uterus, where it is supposed to implant. The egg gets stuck when a tube is damaged, scarred, or distorted. Common conditions that increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy include the following:

• Previous tube infections (salpingitis), such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), chlamydia, and gonorrhea
  
  
• Previous surgery inside the abdomen, especially involving the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, lower abdomen, or bowels (Local surgery to the outside of the cervix is not a risk factor.)
  
  
• Use of fertility medications at the time of conception
  
  
• Prior history of tubal pregnancy
  
  
• The use of an intrauterine device (IUD) does not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. However, a normal pregnancy is unlikely with an IUD in place, so if a woman becomes pregnant while using an IUD, it is more likely the pregnancy is not inside the uterus.

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