Smoking fires up ectopic pregnancy risk
21 February 2003
Smoking increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy, French research shows.
An ectopic pregnancy is one that forms outside the uterus (womb), usually in one of the Fallopian tubes. Pain low in the abdomen in early pregnancy, possibly with vaginal bleeding, may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Treatment is required quickly to avoid the tube rupturing, which can be life-threatening.
The study looked at 803 women who had experienced ectopic pregnancy, and showed that women smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day were 4 times more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy than non-smokers (American Journal of Epidemiology 2003; 157: 185-94).
Women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease were 3.5 times more likely than other women to have an ectopic pregnancy.
Age, previous spontaneous abortions, history of infertility and previous use of an intrauterine device (IUD) were other factors increasing the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. A previous medically-induced abortion increased the risk nearly 3 times, but no increased risk was noted for surgical abortion.
Last Reviewed: 24 February 2003
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 21/02/03
