Patient's question:
I had an IUD implanted three years ago, and my menstrual cycle has always been very regular. However, this month, my period was delayed by a week, and I've been feeling nauseous and vomiting. After a check-up, it was found to be an ectopic pregnancy. How could this happen? Please explain: Why do women experience ectopic pregnancies?Doctor's answer:
Reproductive tract infection: Conditions such as gynecological inflammation, like vaginitis and cervicitis, may spread downward to the fallopian tubes, causing fallopian tube inflammation. After an induced abortion, the body's natural defense mechanisms are disrupted, making the fallopian tubes more susceptible to bacterial infection, leading to inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Repeated induced abortions increase the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy with each subsequent pregnancy. Studies have shown that pelvic inflammatory disease can also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy by 2.7 times. Currently, the rate of cesarean births is on the rise, and ectopic pregnancies occurring at the site of uterine scars are also increasing. Additionally, appendicitis perforation is a high-risk factor for ectopic pregnancy, and appendectomy can increase the risk by 1.8 times.