Ectopic pregnancy in Aberdeen 1950–1985

Abstract

Summary. The reported incidence of ectopic pregnancy in Aberdeen City and suburbs (1950–1985), using as denominators maternities, pregnancies and women aged 15–44 years, has increased threefold since 1970 to 6·4/1000 pregnancies. This increased incidence persisted after the exclusion of previously sterilized women. A total of 11128 women were sterilized in Aberdeen City and suburbs between 1960 and 1982; 36 ectopic pregnancies occurred in this sterilized population. The prevalence of ectopic pregnancy was 3·55/1000 sterilizations. This did not alter significantly over the period of study despite changes in the method of sterilization. However, due to the increased popularity of sterilization, the proportion of ectopic pregnancies in women who had been sterilized increased from 0% in the 1950s to 21% in the quinquennium 1975–1979.

Increasing incidence of ectopic pregnancy in one Norwegian county ‐ a population based study, 1970–1993

“…Some authors have credited recent technologic advances in pregnancy detection as one of several factors explaining the increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancy observed during the last decades (4,6,8,9). Our results confirm that of Hemminki and Heinonen that the introduction or more extensive use of new diagnostics did not change the annual incidence of ectopic pregnancy in Finland from the late 1970s through 1983 (6).…”

“…From the mid-1970s through the mid-l980s, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy more than doubled in many countries of the Western world (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). In the United States, a nearly fourfold increase in the rate of ectopic pregnancy was reported between 1970 and 1989 (8).…”

“…Furthermore, the use of more sensitive pregnancy tests, laparoscopy, and vaginal ultra-sound might have resulted in the identification of cases that otherwise would have resolved spontaneously. thus increasing the incidence of ectopic pregnancy (4,6,9).…”

Temporal Trend in the Frequency of Ectopic Pregnancies in Lombardy, Italy

“…From the early 1970s to the late 1980s, increasing EP rates were reported in several countries including Norway [2], England and Wales [3], Finland [4], Scotland [5], and Sweden [6]. However, from the early 1990s, in several countries, the rates were stable or flattened out [7,8,9,10,11].…”

Ultrasound evaluation of ectopic pregnancy including correlation with human chorionic gonadotrophin levels

“…It accounts for 10% of maternal deaths and recent reports have emphasized that its incidence is increasing (Cole & Clarke, 1988;Flett et al, 1988;Newton, 1988). Clinical diagnosis is correct in less than 50% of cases (Weckstein, 1985).…”