Ectopic Pregnancy

Prevention

If you smoke, quitting will lower your risk of ectopic pregnancy. Women who smoke or who used to smoke have higher rates of ectopic pregnancy. The more you now smoke, the higher your risk is.¹

Using safe sex practices, such as using a condom every time you have sex, lowers your risk of ectopic pregnancy. This is because safe sex helps protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is a common cause of scar tissue in the fallopian tubes, which can cause ectopic pregnancy.

You cannot prevent ectopic pregnancy, but you can prevent deadly complications with early diagnosis and treatment. If you have one or more risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, you and your doctor can closely monitor your first weeks of a pregnancy.

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Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN	Last Updated: May 21, 2009
Medical Review:	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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