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 life-threatening complications with early diagnosis and treatment. If you have one or more risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, you and your health professional can closely monitor your first weeks of a pregnancy.

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW Ralph Poore	Last Updated: June 6, 2007
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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