Traumatizing as it is, understanding the underlying causes of ectopic pregnancy is crucial. Often, people just associate the problem as a matter of chance, which is not really true. There are a number of medical reasons behind it along with lifestyle and habits. Here are the common causes of ectopic pregnancy-
PID - Also referred to as pelvic inflammatory disease, this is a diseased associated with the inflammation of the female reproductive system. It starts as a sexually transmitted disease, but increases ectopic pregnancy risks.
Past ectopic pregnancy - A previous ectopic pregnancy automatically puts you at a risk of having a next one. Though chances are about 10%, there is still some risk involved.
Surgery in the past- If you had a surgery on your fallopian tubes like unsuccessful female sterilization procedure, you may have a higher chance of ectopic pregnancy.
IVF- Women who had been taking IVF medications for stimulating release of the egg are at a higher chance of getting ectopic pregnancy.
Contraception modes- If you had opted for intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS) for contraception – chances of getting pregnant are minimal. But in some cases, pregnancy may take place in the ectopic way. Even contraceptive pills are known to increase this risk.
Lifestyle habits- It has been seen that getting pregnant post 35-40 years does increase risks of ectopic pregnancy. Along with this, smoking, unhealthy eating, etc. contribute towards the same.
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) - In the 70’s a synthetic estrogen was given to women for reducing miscarriage. DES could be passed on from your mother’s generation to you. However, in such cases, detection is possible at an earlier stage and scans reveal the impact of DES immediately.