Ectopic Pregnancy: History, Incidence, Epidemiology, and Risk Factors

Ectopic pregnancy is directly related to tubal infection, and so prevention of chlamydia and gonorrhea must be the watchword to lower its risk and incidence. With accurate determination of very low human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations and sonography, >85% of women are diagnosed before tubal rupture, which has led to medical therapy and laparoscopic surgery with tubal preservation and the potential for future fertility. Today, early intervention saves lives and reduces morbidity, but ectopic pregnancy still accounts for 4% to 10% of pregnancy-related deaths and leads to a high incidence of ectopic site gestations in subsequent pregnancies.