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Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy compared with pregnant controls
Degree of risk Risk factors Odds ratio
High Previous ectopic pregnancy 2.7 to 8.3
Previous tubal surgery 2.1 to 21
Tubal pathology 3.5 to 25
Sterilization 5.2 to 19
IUD  
 - Past use 1.7
 - Current use 4.2 to 16.4
 - Levonorgestrel IUD 4.9
In vitro fertilization in current pregnancy 4.0 to 9.3
Moderate Current use of estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives 1.7 to 4.5
Previous sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia) 2.8 to 3.7
Previous of pelvic inflammatory disease 2.5 to 3.4
In utero DES exposure 3.7
Smoking  
 - Past smoker 1.5 to 2.5
 - Current smoker 1.7 to 3.9
Previous pelvic/abdominal surgery 4.0
Previous spontaneous abortion 3.0
Low Previous medical induced abortion  2.8 
Infertility 2.1 to 2.7
Age ≥40 years 2.9
Vaginal douching 1.1 to 3.1
Age at first intercourse <18 years 1.6
Previous appendectomy 1.6
 
IUD: intrauterine device; DES: diethylstilbestrol.
Data from:

  • Clayton HB, Schieve LA, Peterson HB, et al. Ectopic pregnancy risk with assisted reproductive technology procedures. Obstet Gynecol 2006; 107:595.
  • Ankum WM, Mol BWJ, Van der Veen F, Bossuyt PMM. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 1996; 65:1093.
  • Bouyer J, Coste J, Shojaei T, et al. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy: a comprehensive analysis based on a large case-control, population-based study in France. Am J Epidemiol 2003; 157:185.
  • Mol BWJ, Ankum WM, Bossuyt PMM, Van der Veen F. Contraception and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Contraception 1995; 52:337.
  • Li C, Zhao WH, Zhu Q, et al. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy: a multicenter case-control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015; 15:187.
  • Cheng L, Zhao WH, Meng CX, et al. Contraceptive use and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: a multicenter case-control study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115031.
  • Hoover RN, Hyer M, Pfeiffer RM, et al. Adverse health outcomes in women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol. New Engl J Med 2011; 365:1304.
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