A guide for patients
An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilised egg implants outside the womb, almost always in a fallopian tube. It affects around 1 in 90 pregnancies. In most cases, there's no single cause — but certain factors make it more likely.
What increases the risk?
● Previous ectopic pregnancy — the single biggest risk factor. After one ectopic pregnancy, the chance of another is around 7–10%, roughly 1 in 10.
● Previous tubal surgery or damage — including surgery for a past ectopic, sterilisation procedures, or tubal reconstruction.
● Pelvic infection — particularly chlamydia or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can scar or narrow the fallopian tubes.
● Endometriosis — can cause scarring around the tubes and ovaries.
● Fertility treatment — pregnancies conceived through IVF carry a slightly higher risk.
● Smoking — damages the tiny hair-like structures inside the tubes that help move the egg toward the womb.
● An intrauterine device (IUD or coil), or the progesterone-only pill (mini-pill) — if you become pregnant while using either of these, it's more likely to be ectopic (though both make pregnancy far less likely overall).
● Age — risk rises slightly for women over 35.
Some people have none of these factors and still have an ectopic pregnancy — it isn't always possible to explain why it happened.
If you've had an ectopic pregnancy before
It's natural to feel anxious in future pregnancies. Because your risk is higher next time, we'll usually recommend an early reassurance scan, typically around 6–7 weeks, to confirm the pregnancy is developing in the womb rather than waiting for your routine dating scan.
Most people who have had one ectopic pregnancy go on to have a healthy pregnancy afterward. Around 65% conceive naturally within 18 months, and the majority of future pregnancies are perfectly normal. If a tube was removed or damaged, this can occasionally make conceiving take a little longer, but it rarely stops it from happening altogether.
When to get help straight away
Contact us promptly if you experience one-sided pelvic pain, unusual bleeding, or shoulder-tip pain in early pregnancy, so we can arrange a scan.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice. Please speak with one of our specialists about your individual circumstances.