What is an ectopic pregnancy?

Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on May 25, 2025
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Ectopic pregnancy used to be commonly referred to as "宫外孕". In fact, it is known as ectopic pregnancy, which means that the fertilized egg implants outside the uterine cavity. A normal pregnancy occurs in the uterine cavity, but if it occurs outside the uterine cavity, it is called ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy includes tubal pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, abdominal pregnancy, broad ligament pregnancy, cervical pregnancy, cornual pregnancy, etc. These are all types of ectopic pregnancies, with tubal pregnancy being the most common clinically.

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Written by Yan Qiao
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Will an IUD cause an ectopic pregnancy?

IUD insertion can cause ectopic pregnancy because it is a minor gynecological surgery and an invasive procedure. Any invasive operation can potentially trigger pelvic inflammatory disease. The occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to inflammation of the fallopian tubes, which is one of the main causes of ectopic pregnancy. Moreover, not every patient is suitable for an IUD. These devices come in many shapes, and there should be an optimal match between the shape of the IUD and the size and form of the uterine cavity. If the IUD does not match the patient's uterine cavity size and shape, it may not effectively prevent pregnancy, thus increasing the risk of pregnancy with the IUD in place, including the occurrence of ectopic pregnancies. In conclusion, IUD insertion can lead to ectopic pregnancies.

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can you have intercourse with an ectopic pregnancy?

Ectopic pregnancy and sexual intercourse often occur when the patient is unaware, specifically during the early stages when there is no bleeding, no abdominal pain, and only amenorrhea is present; intercourse might occur under these circumstances. However, if there is irregular vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain, suspecting an ectopic pregnancy, it is advised not to have intercourse. This is because intercourse can cause excitement, which might lead some ectopic pregnancy masses to rupture, potentially causing severe bleeding.

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Written by Liu Qin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Causes of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, among which tubal pregnancy is the most common type, accounting for about 95% of ectopic pregnancies. There are many causes of ectopic pregnancy, with the main cause being inflammation of the fallopian tubes. The inflammation can cause the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube to become sticky, narrowing the lumen of the tube, or impairing the function of the cilia inside the tube, leading to obstruction of the fertilized egg's movement within the tube and resulting in implantation at that location. Other causes include surgery on the fallopian tubes, poor development or abnormal function of the fallopian tubes, further development of assisted reproductive technologies, and the use of emergency contraceptive pills, also known as contraceptive failure, among others. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Tang Mei Xiang
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Ectopic pregnancy causes

Ectopic pregnancy is commonly referred to as such, but it is actually called extrauterine pregnancy. Extrauterine pregnancy refers to the implantation of a fertilized egg outside the uterine cavity, including cervical pregnancy, broad ligament pregnancy, ovarian pregnancy, abdominal pregnancy, and tubal pregnancy, with tubal pregnancy being the most common clinically. The causes of ectopic pregnancy include the recent increase in cesarean section rates, leading to more scar pregnancies, which are also a type of extrauterine pregnancy. Furthermore, abnormalities like uterine malformations also belong to extrauterine pregnancies. Clinically, the most common type is tubal pregnancy, mainly caused by inflammation of the fallopian tubes. Other factors include previous tubal surgeries or history of tubal pregnancy, congenital malformations, and abnormal function of the fallopian tubes. Additionally, the use of assisted reproductive technologies has also increased the chances of extrauterine pregnancies.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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How long does it take for an ectopic pregnancy to bleed?

Ectopic pregnancy test strips indicate that the gestational sac is implanted outside the uterine cavity, with the most common type being a tubal pregnancy. The bleeding caused by a tubal pregnancy includes two types: vaginal bleeding and intra-abdominal bleeding. Firstly, the vaginal bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy mainly occurs because the gestational sac lacks a normal developmental environment, with relatively low levels of estrogen and progesterone. This leads to insufficient endometrial proliferation, resulting in regressive bleeding. Typically, vaginal bleeding appears around the fifth week of an ectopic pregnancy, but the amount of bleeding is generally small. Secondly, if the gestational sac in an ectopic pregnancy is relatively large, it can cause the local rupture of the fallopian tube, leading to intra-abdominal bleeding. This usually occurs around the seventh to eighth week of pregnancy. If the gestational sac is too small, even if there is mild abdominal pain, it will not cause intra-abdominal bleeding.