Incidence and Factors Posing Risk for Ectopic Pregnancy During the Initial Trimester of Gestation

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate occurrence of ectopic pregnancy and identify the related dangerous aspects between individuals in the initial trimester of pregnancy.

Methodology: The descriptive cross-sectional research was carried out in the Gynae C unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, spanning from March 29, 2022, to September 29, 2022. An overall 179 individuals meeting the inclusion criteria were consecutively sampled, and their data were recorded using a pre-designed Performa. The entered data were analyzed on SPSS version 16 to calculate frequencies and means. Stratification of ectopic pregnancy was performed based on factors such as age, parity, occupation, locality, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), previous pelvic surgery, history of preceding abortion, previous ectopic pregnancy, and past of infertility. The post-stratification Chi-Square test was applied at a 0.05% level of implication.

Results: In the first trimester of pregnancy, 24% of patients experienced ectopic pregnancies. The highest risk factor was a history of abdomino-pelvic surgery, with a frequency of 24.6%. Subfertility followed closely at 20.1%, while earlier ectopic pregnancy, history of abortion, and past of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) were associated with rates of 17.9%, 15.1%, and 15.1%, respectively.

Conclusion: Ectopic pregnancies are notably more prevalent among women who have a prior history of infertility. In cases of first-trimester patients displaying symptoms and a background of subfertility, a heightened suspicion for ectopic pregnancy should be maintained.

Keywords: ectopic pregnancy, infertility, risk factors, pregnancy complications