What are the causes and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?
As many as 50% of women with ectopic pregnancies have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This is an infection of the fallopian tubes (salpingitis) that can spread to the uterus or ovaries. It is most commonly caused by the organisms Gonorrhea and Chlamydia and is usually transmitted by sexual intercourse. Other conditions also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. They include: • Endometriosis. A condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus is found outside the uterus, and can block a fallopian tube. • Exposure to diethylsilbestrol (DES) as a fetus. If a woman’s mother took DES (a synthetic version of the hormone estrogen) during pregnancy, the woman may have abnormalities in her fallopian tubes that can make ectopic pregnancy more likely. • Taking hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle and may be in medications prescribed by a doctor for birth control or other reasons. Taking these hormones can affect the inter
