Causes of Ectopic pregnancy

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Factors that make you more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy include:

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a condition involving infection and inflammation of the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Around 50% of women operated on for ectopic pregnancy have evidence of this condition;
Smoking;
Previous abdominal surgery such as Caesarean section or surgical fibroid removal
Naturally having kinked (bent) or abnormal fallopian tube;
Using a progestogen-releasing intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or the mini-pill;
Having surgical sterilisation, or a reversal of this procedure or other surgery on the fallopian tubes; and
IVF (in-vitro fertilisation â€“ â€˜test tubeâ€™ method) treatment for fertility problems. Despite the fertilised egg being placed in the womb, it still may attach itself to tissues outside the uterus.

Having a previous ectopic pregnancy can increase the risk from 1 in 100 to 1 in 10 pregnancies. Getting older and taking the progestogen-only contraceptive pill may also increase your risk.

However, many women who have an ectopic pregnancy do not have any of these risk factors.