[Some demographic aspects associated with ectopic pregnancy]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Gynecology
• Obstetrics

Context:

• Ectopic pregnancy diagnosis has been transformed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) testing and high-resolution transvaginal ultrasound.
• Despite technological progress, understanding demographic and risk factors remains vital for effective diagnosis and management.

Purpose:

• To evaluate demographic characteristics of ectopic pregnancy patients at Hospital Angeles del Pedregal over a six-year period (2006-2012).
• To identify key risk factors and patient profiles associated with ectopic pregnancy in the studied population.

Summary:

• A retrospective analysis of 143 ectopic pregnancy cases revealed the average patient age was 32.4 years, with 89% over 25.
• Key findings include 35% primigravidous, 51 prior cesarean sections, 10% with a history of ectopic pregnancy, and 30% smokers. Notably, 72% did not use contraceptives.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease was present in only 2% of cases, suggesting other factors are more prevalent.

Impact:

• The study underscores that even with advanced diagnostic tools, a thorough assessment of risk factors is essential for accurate ectopic pregnancy diagnosis.
• Findings can inform clinical practice by emphasizing the need to consider patient age, reproductive history, and lifestyle factors in risk evaluation for ectopic pregnancy.