Ectopic pregnancy: Treatment and implications

Ectopic pregnancy is a relatively common condition, affecting approximately 1 in 100 pregnancies, although in most cases the ectopic pregnancy dies and is absorbed before a period is missed. It occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the womb in the ovary, the abdomen, the cervix, at the join between the tube and the womb (the cornua) or, most commonly, in the fallopian tube. As the pregnancy progresses, it causes abdominal pain and bleeding, which can lead to maternal cardiovascular collapse and death.