The Risk Factors for Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a common complication and one of the causes of pregnancy-related deaths. Considering the increased prevalence of ectopic pregnancy in recent years and the increased risk factors such as assisted reproductive treatment, the present study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Babol, northern Iran.

This case-control study was performed on pregnant women who were admitted with suspicion for ectopic pregnancy or acute abdomen within a 6-year period. Patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy were selected in the case group and the control group was selected from among the pregnant women's medical record during the same years. Patients were examined in terms of age, parity, history of abortion, type of contraception, history of ectopic pregnancy, history of pelvic infections, history of cesarean section, infertility treatment, history of smoking, marriages within the family, medical history and underlying disease.

In this study, 201 patients were examined in each group. The mean age for the case group was 29.75±5.6 and for the control group was 28.62±6.4 years. Among the risk factors, assisted reproductive treatment (OR=10.24, p≤0.001), abdominal and pelvic surgery (OR=2.35, p=0.002), infertility (p=6.76, p<0.001), contraceptive pills (OR=0.61, p<0.001) and nulliparity (OR = 1.61, p=0.019) were associated with increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

According to the results of this study, the most important risk factors for ectopic pregnancy are the use of hormonal pills to prevent pregnancy and nulliparity, respectively.