[Evaluation of the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in laparotomy patients during 1991-2001]

Ectopic pregnancy [EP] is one of the major causes of maternal death during pregnancy. This study was designed to determine the risk factors of EP in Mahdiyeh Hospital over 10 years. This case-control study included 200 women who underwent laparotomy with the diagnosis of EP in Mahdiyeh Hospital between the years 1991 and 2001. Also, 400 randomly selected pregnant women with normal vaginal delivery were included as controls. A direct relationship was found between EP and history of abortion, previous EP, PID, pelvic surgery, appendectomy, infertility, using clomiphene, current IUD and IVF. The chance of developing an EP [odds ratio with 95% confidence interval] was 26.7 [9.01-79.06] in women using clomiphene, 21.16 [2.71-164.8] in women with a previous history of EP, 3.29 [1.94-5.58] in those with prior appendectomy, and 9.63 [5.24-17.67] times greater in women who got pregnant while having an IUD. It is concluded that among outpatients, previous abdominal or pelvic surgery, current IUD, history of previous EP, and history of using clomiphene increase the risk of developing an EP. This study did not find any association between EP and previous usage of IUD, mini-pill or age