Patient's question:
My husband was unwilling to use a condom yesterday, so I took an emergency contraceptive pill immediately after having sex. But recently, I saw a post online about how contraceptive pills can cause ectopic pregnancy, and I was very upset. Do emergency contraceptive pills cause ectopic pregnancy?Doctor's answer:
The view that emergency contraception pills can cause ectopic pregnancy has not yet been proven. Emergency contraception pills work by affecting a woman's endocrine system to override the barrier that prevents sperm from meeting eggs and fertilized eggs from implanting. After fertilization, the embryo travels from the fallopian tube to the uterus, relying on the movement of cilia in the fallopian tube and the contraction of smooth muscle. When the drug interferes with the contractions of the fallopian tube, the path of the embryo is blocked, preventing it from entering the uterus normally, which may lead to ectopic pregnancy. However, the chance of this occurring is extremely rare. There are many risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, such as multiple induced abortions and overly frequent sexual activity.